HOW IS YOUR SPIRITUAL LIFE? ARE YOU PISSED WITH THIS QUESTION?
The question ‘How is your spiritual life?’ once stirred up anger and unwanted interest by the person asking me; there was a time I evade the question with a smile or just nod without saying a word. I mean, I find the question to be an intrusion into my private life. But, not anymore. What exactly changed?
Being in the position of a spiritual leader has taught me more than I would have ever known. I who once hated people asking me the question ‘How is your spiritual life?’ now desires for someone to ask me that, even if not frequently but occasionally; in fact, I started asking those under me, but their response was the same as mine some years back.
Some of them would even ignore my calls because they were sure my questions would be ‘How is your spiritual life? Hope you prayed this morning?’ after greeting them.
But then, why do we hate the question ‘How is your spiritual life?’ Why are we so pissed, unhappy with it? Why do we term that question to be unnecessary meddling? Didn’t the Scriptures admonish us to be our brother’s keeper? Why then, does the majority love to speak more often of material things than answer this question when asked?
Some of them might not be living in sin. They must have observed their devotion that morning, but when asked, to them, this is a no-go area, my privacy no one dares intrude into; because they feel it is between them and God. It is their fight and not yours, the one asking the question.
I mean, I once felt like that; anyone asking me the question was simply wasting their time because all I will do is just smile, social media makes things easy for me with emoji’s, I would just send a smiling yellow emoji. That was my answer, and you mustn’t ask me further.
But do you know? I was building an impenetrable boundary that portrays me as perfect within my domain? If only I had allowed those questions to come and be grateful for it, I would frown. Are you in this category? Well, you aren’t growing spiritually. Read this post on five indicators of Spiritual growth
Why do we have spiritual leaders if you cannot allow them to do the ministry God has called them to?
Here are three (3) reasons why you are pissed with the question ‘How is your Spiritual Life?’
1. Falling and Rising i.e., inconsistent walk with God: I am sure, many must have been in this phase of their Christian journey, that declining and rising state; a moment you are born again, the next you are off to watch that pornography film or steal that money. This state isn’t desirable at all, and you hate yourself for it; because you keep going back to your vomit. If asked this question, then you are likely you’ll be pissed. I was, because I went through this phase, times without number.
2. Secret Sins: Hear, he that covers his sins shall not prosper; that’s what the Bible says; secret sins are another reason why this question pisses you off. You still struggle with pornography; you find it hard to let go of immorality; you feel you could serve two masters together. Another trap, you should be careful of is this; when you are deceived, or you deceive yourself into thinking little sins is nothing; do you know some confidently answer the question ‘How is your spiritual life?’ yet they still have secret sins? You can only deceive others and yourself, but not God. The way out is at Calvary before it is late.
3. Lone Ranger Mentality: Cain answered God after killing his brother, Abel; Am I my brother’s keeper? What he meant was this: ‘God, Abel should have kept himself well; if not, I wouldn’t have killed him. This life, everyone should face their business’. Many Christians carry the lone ranger mentality; I once did; I count some questions as meddling, I just want to be on my own; no one I thought could know how I feel, how it was so hard to try to struggle with sins all on my own.
So, even when I wake up each day, not praying, I throw the blame at God for not listening to my prayers yesterday, why should I pray today? SO, when someone asks; ‘Victory, how is your spiritual life?’, I am indirectly answering then with ‘You don’t understand even if I tell you, so let me just say fine, so you’ll shut up.’
How the Bible addresses the question ‘How is your Spiritual Life?’ And Lessons Believers are to learn from it
I was going through the Bible for an appropriate scripture that will do justice to the question, and I remembered a part of the Bible where Paul asked about the affairs of the people he preached to. After much searching, I stumbled on 1 Thessalonians 3:5-13. See the KJV references below:
5) For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labor be in vain.
6) But now when Timotheus came from you unto us and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you:
7) Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith:
8) For now, we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.
9) For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God;
10) Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?
11) Now God himself band our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you.
12) And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love fone toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:
13) To the end, he may establish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.
Lesson 1: In verse 5, after being unable to forbear that they had been unable to hear from the Thessalonians, Paul sent to know the spiritual state of the People, he had one purpose, to know whether they were still in faith; and if peradventure they are not; then they would pray for them. Their labor wasn’t meant to go in vain over them. Have it in mind, that when asked ‘How is your spiritual life?’; it means well; that question could actually trigger you receiving timely encouragement when you need it or being kept in prayers that you don’t fall. It isn’t meddling.
Lesson 2: The reply of the Thessalonians was with great honor and respect they joyfully replied. If your answer to the question stirs up unhappiness in you, check it; something is going wrong somewhere you don’t know. The question should make you happy, it is meant to keep you going in your relationship with God.
Lesson 3: To those asking the question, I hope you don’t have any ulterior motive. If the answer you get puts you in a state of you being negatively angry, something is wrong. Are you praying for the person to fall into sin? Paul said they were comforted with the reply of the Thessalonians, are you comforted with their reply? Even if you are disappointed, do you put them in your prayers? If not, check your feelings, you are doing it wrong. Perhaps, deep down, you wish the person is in a state you are exactly in? The state of secret sins or whatever it is.
Lesson 4: Paul, the Apostle prayed for the Thessalonians after their response, he prayed that they will continue in Christ, and kept blameless until the coming of the lord. After you ask the question ‘How is your spiritual life?’; whether the reply is positive or negative; add a short or long prayer to it. Beloved, let’s keep each other in prayers. There is no competition on the road to heaven, we are meant to be each other’s keeper.
Having read so far, let me ask this: How is your spiritual life?
Read: 21 WAYS TO BUILD YOUR SPIRITUAL LIFE
Are you dealing with secrets sins or you are falling and rising? Go to God in humble repentance, there is no other way out, I have been a victim, but Calvary is the only way. You can live a holy life; it is no magic. The Grace of God is sufficient for you. Ask, and you shall receive.
But, never take the Grace of God in vain, it isn’t a license to keep living in sins; for shall we continue in sins, and that Grace should abound? GOD FORBID!!!
Answer the question above in the comment, I love to read from you.
