Training in godliness II

Call To Prayer

Title: Training in godliness II

By: Njuacha Hubert

Date: 19/05/2023

No training seems pleasant at the time. In fact, it seems painful. But later on it produces a harvest of godliness and peace. It does this for those who have been trained by it..  Hebrews 11:12 NIRV

In the first part of this series I wrote about why we should train in godliness. I shared that among many reasons we should train in godliness because it will result in us gaining everything as it is written in Mathew 6:33 and secondly that by training in godliness we are preparing our selves to be used mightily by God( 2 Timothy  2:20-21). Today I will share a few points about how to train in godliness. Things you must have heard already which are worth repeating.

The first training is gaining knowledge of the word of God. This is done mainly through listening to preachers (starting from your parents) and by personal study of the bible. So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17).  The saying that learning never ends holds ever more true for the word of God. So we ought to keep reading and listening. When you share what you know, it increases your understanding of it. So share the word. Not only are you evangelizing but also increasing your faith. Do you have an organized bible study plan.? When we study the word we are gathering ammunition for war. The battle between flesh and choosing godliness is fought in the mind and you need the assurance and conviction of the word to overcome flesh (Proverbs 4:23, Revelation 12:11, Ephesians 6:10-18).

The second training is fellowship with God or Prayer. Spending regular time to pray, to worship, to meditate on His word and just be silent with a consciousness of His presence. Praying in tongues builds your faith(Jude 1:20, 1 Corinthians 14:4). If you have a weakness you can dedicate time to pray against it in tongues.

Practice the consciousness of the presence of God. During the day, intermittently, you can thank God and recall that He is in you(Holy spirit), by you(angels) and for you(died for you). This practice helps us because sometimes we can forget ourselves and be carried away in the moment. But if you remember that God is there and He sees you, that can inspire you to resist temptation just like the case of Joseph with Potiphar’s wife in Genesis 39:9. Don’t also forget that the devil is not far. He can’t harm you but He is permitted to tempt you. Jesus quickly identified when the Devil was speaking through Peter (Mathew 16:23). Peter must have learnt this so well that He taught this alertness in 1 Peter 5:8.

Fasting is a training that is necessary. Fasting builds your resistance to the needs of the flesh. So that when temptation comes you have already some experience in denying yourself and waiting for the right moment. If you think you have to wait for temptation to overcome it, why was Jesus lead into the wilderness to fast for 40 days and nights before the start of His earthly ministry ?

Also giving to the poor, the church and to all because it one of the most practical ways for loving as commanded by Jesus.(John 3:16, John 13:34)

Prayer Point:

Let’s thank God for His word today. Let’s pray for the grace to continue those practices and add ones that train us in godliness. Conforming to Christ.