Five Lifestyle Practices to Guarantee Maturity

I wanted to share with you some very simple and practical points that have really helped me draw closer to the Lord. It is the essence of Christianity 101, or the "Sermon on the Mount", the famous teaching of Jesus in Matthew 5-7. From that passage, here are just some practical ways to help us mature in our walk with Jesus in being blameless before Him in love.

Be even more diligent...for if you do these things you will never stumble; (2 Peter 1:10)

Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect. (Matthew 5:48)

If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. (James 3:2)

1) Make a covenant with our eyes: set no worthless thing before our eyes (including too much "innocent" media)

I will set nothing wicked (worthless) before my eyes (Psalms 101:3)

I have made a covenant with my eyes; why should I look upon a young woman? (Job 31:1)

The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore, when your eye is good, your whole body also is full of light...36 If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, the whole body will be full of light, as when the bright shining of a lamp gives you light." (Luke 11:34-36)

2) Bridle our tongue: replace complaining, boasting, foolish talk with thanksgiving, encouraging & silence.

In everything give thanks...this is God's will...19 Do not quench the Spirit. (1 Thessalonians 5:18-19)

Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 30 Do not grieve the Spirit...5:4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting but rather giving thanks. (Ephesians 4:29-5:4)

For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries...pride, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within and defile a man." (Mark 7:21-23)

3) Manage our time: enough for praying the Word (with fasting) and serving (includes relating).

Walk circumspectly not as fools but as wise 16 redeeming the time...(Ephesians 5:15-16)

So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. (Psalms 90:12)

4) Give our money: giving as much as possible (beyond personal comfort and honor).

Having food and clothing with these we shall be content...(1 Timothy 6:8)

Give, and it will be given to you: good measure...and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you." (Luke 6:38)

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth...20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven...21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21)

5) Communing prayer: connect with Holy Spirit throughout the day

Grace of the Lord...and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all (2 Corinthians 13:14)

Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. (Galatians 5:16-17)