Prayer of Progress
Ifollow social media accounts for several fitness brands and bloggers (as if bymerely following them, some of their fitness might rub off on me). A regularpart of their mix of posts is the classic before-and-after photo. One whiteline separates a “sad,” overweight person on the left from a “happy,” slimperson on the right. They boast of how you can get these same results if youchoose their program or follow their method.
What makes these progress photos so popular? They show that change is possible. They motivate us. They remind us how far we’ve come, how far we can go.
Whileyou can take a picture of yourself and compare it to one taken three monthsago, it’s harder to do that kind of self-comparison in our spiritual lives.Sometimes, it feels as though we are fighting sin, seeking after God, andpracticing spiritual disciplines, but nothing is actually changing.
Wefeel like we’re battling the same sins over and over. Our hearts are stillprone to wander after other idols. We forget even the most basic of disciplines.This seeming lack of progress can discourage us in our spiritual journey, whichis what the Enemy wants to do.
Hewants us to think that we’re a lost cause. We can never become that spiritualleader we admire in our church, so why even try? We fight that lie with thetruth that, even when we are faithless, God is gracious and faithful (2 Timothy2:13). He has promised to complete His good work in us (Philippians 1:6).
Becauseeven if you can’t see it, God has already made you more and more like Him. Everymorning that you come and behold His presence through prayer and Scripture, Heis molding you more into the image of His Son (Colossians 3:12). Every Sunday youworship and learn with other believers, He is driving His truth and charactermore deeply into your soul.
Becauseone day, you have the hope of being fully transformed into who God created youto be when you see Him in all His glory
Because one day, you have the hope of being fully transformed into who God created you to be when you see Him in all His glory
“Beloved,we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but weknow that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as heis.” -1 John 3:2
Buttoday, you may not feel transformed. You may feel frustrated that you lost yourtemper again. Or that you chose that extra thirty minutes of sleep instead oftime with the Lord. Or you let fear stop you from sharing the Gospel with acoworker.
When I start sinking into this self-condemning thought process, I turn my eyes away from myself (which isn’t easy for my perfectionist, Enneagram 1 personality) and to the grace and faithfulness of God. I remember that He is the one who purifies me. In a culture that tells us over and over again, "You are enough!" we need to remember that only Jesus is enough for us.
“Andeveryone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.” - 1 John 3:3
AndI don’t just remove the thoughts of self-righteousness, I replace them withGod-centered praise. I praise Him for how He has worked in my life in spite ofmy unfaithfulness! I praise Him for the hope of glorification in eternity(Romans 8:29-30)!
Oneway I have incorporated this practice into my spiritual routine is throughmonthly reflection. The first of every month I review my prayer journal andBible study notebook from the past month and look for ways that God has workedin me. I praise Him for how He has answered prayers, given me direction, andhelped me have (even small) victories over sin. I praise Him for how myattitude to people and situations have been changed by His word. I praise Himfor truths I did not know (or knew more superficially) a month prior.
This isn’t a pep talk to pride myself in my spiritual efforts of the past month. No, it’s a thankful celebration of God fulfilling His promises in my life.
This isn’t a pep talk to pride myself in my spiritual efforts of the past month. No, it’s a thankful celebration of God fulfilling His promises in my life.
Sostop striving today and look back at what God has done in your life. How areyou different than you were five years ago? A year ago? A month ago?
And let that before-and-after picture spur you to worshipour faithful and gracious God!