When I was reading and studying on our promise verse for this year. I really felt this is impressed on my heart. It was a phrase. And I have been taking out time to learn and understand more on how that phrase really applies to our context as a community of Christ followers!

We are the Radiant Ones!

So in case you feel otherwise, or have forgotten this.. Let us remind ourselves of this scripture!

I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears. Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces.
Psalms 34:4-5 NLT

Coming back to phrase I was telling you about.. It is a guide to our journey of radiance. For this month, we gonna be talking about ‘FILWP’— Falling in love with the process

I touched on this a bit at the beginning of this year… But I am really challenged and reminded by the Holy Spirit for us to dwell on this part of Verse 5 in Psalm 34..
‘Look to Him’..

See Goals are overrated sometime. We can list down great goals and things to do for every year.. But to see those goals become a part of your reality, we need action!

Every goal has a process!
Every promise has a process
Some of the most insane goals in your life are only accomplished by intentional steps.

I love this quote by John Maxwell — ‘Most people have uphill goals, and downhill habitsʼ. 

The only way to break downhill habits is to get intentional.

And for all of us to grow and mature in our journey as Christ followers— 

Spiritual disciplines need to be an integral part of our lives.

So the only road to maturity in Godliness passes through the practise of Spiritual disciplines.

Now, there is always this tension that we all face when we hear the word ʼdisciplineʼ and the tension gets multiplied even more when you hear ‘spiritual disciplines '

Now let's look what the scriptures say about holiness;

Now, may the God of peace and harmony set you apart, making you completely holy. And may your entire being—spirit, soul, and body—be kept completely flawless in the appearing of our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One.
1 Thessalonians 5:23 TPT

Jesus, the Holy One, makes us holy. And as sons and daughters, we now belong to his same Father,[n] so he is not ashamed or embarrassed to introduce us as his brothers and sisters!
Hebrews 2:11 TPT

Holiness is a gift from God.

On the other hand, We need to take responsibility to further process of becoming a God-centred person through spiritual disciplines.

Living a God-centred life is a lifelong pursuit. And what I believe God wants to do today in our hearts and lives is change the narrative of how some of us look at these words and phrases.

Knowing all this but still we face struggles right ?

But remember  
"There is an element of struggle in Christian living."

There are moments and seasons of sufferings, pain and loss that develop and shape us well. Practicing the Spiritual Disciplines and maturing in Godliness will be accompanied by struggle. Tackling the forces opposing our progress comes through the practice of the disciplines.