Good morning! When I was younger, my brothers dug this HUGE hole in the backyard of our childhood home. I don’t think I could ever do it justice by trying to explain it, but I’ll do my best!
There is a video that shows a circular hole in the ground with the top of an 8 ft ladder sticking out of it with no one in sight. One by one, six of us came climbing up the ladder and out of the hole.
We were not small kids, our ages ranged from 15-25 years old. It was one of the most ridiculous things I had ever seen, but I am so glad I was there to be a part of it.
Although I was not there for the digging part, I have done my fair share of digging for work. I have dug in good weather and bad weather, in freezing temperatures and on extremely hot days. Sometimes I hated it, and others it was actually enjoyable.
The more experience I gained as I spent more time digging, the better I became at learning to use what tools to help me get through the different types of soil, in all different types of weather, and with all kinds of obstructions – rocks, roots, sprinkler pipes, and more!
In frozen ground, I would use a digging bar to loosen up the ground so I could remove it from the hole. In soft ground, I would use a spaded shovel to grab heaps of dirt at a time. In tight spaces, I would use a trenching shovel with a narrow head to remove a little bit at a time. But one thing I noticed about digging in this area, is that once I got down past the obstructions, the digging seemed to get easier until I got to where I needed to be.
This makes me think about my daily walk with God! A daily relationship with our Heavenly Father takes us through good days and bad days. Sometimes we can’t get enough of sitting at His feet, and other times it seems like a struggle to stay focused on Him with the distractions all around us.
But the more experience we gain as we spend time with God, the easier it will become – and even a step further, this time will become the MOST important part of our day!
“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”
Colossians 2:6-7
Each day it is important for us to dig deeper so that our lives are rooted in Jesus! He is the one that will provide what we need for each day if we choose to rely on Him!
We will learn that there are different ‘tools’ that we can use to make our time with God more effective in addition to reading God’s Word.
- Praise and Worship – Time focused on expressing our thankful heart, telling of His greatness, recognizing His worth, and bowing down before Him!
- Psalm 150:6 – “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.”
- Praying – Time spent having a conversation with our Creator. Expressing our thoughts, feelings, desires, and requests; while also listening for Him to speak providing guidance, correction, and encouragement.
- Jeremiah 33:3 – “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.“
- Journaling – Time spent recording the things God is speaking to you, the things He has done, and the things you are wanting Him to do.
- Psalm 77:11-12 – “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”
- Fasting – Time spent refraining from food or something else as an expression of humility and dependence on God.
- Matthew 4:4 – “Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
These are some of the most frequently used tools that we can use to ‘dig deeper’ in our relationship with God! If you are at a point in your daily walk with God where you feel you are not getting anywhere, fast – try using a different tool! Throughout my walk with God, He has used these different disciplines to shape me and TRANSFORM my life – and He is still working on me!
Heavenly Father, thank You for the many tools You have provided to help us grow deeper in our relationship with You! The way You love us and desire a close, intimate relationship with us is absolutely amazing! Help us to practice the spiritual disciplines daily, to know You more and rely on You for everything we need! In Jesus Name – AMEN!
Be Transformed 