Creating New Space For Growth

Over the years, I have felt the desire to become more than just a checklist Christian. I’ve wrestled with the question, “How can I grow closer to God?” And I wasn’t looking for the plastic Christian answers: Go to church. Read the Bible. Don’t cuss. Be nice. Pray.

Those are all good things. Things we should do. But we can do all those things and still have hearts far from God. I want connection. I want communion. I want closeness.

The New Living Translation puts Jesus’ words in Luke 9:23 like this: “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me.” I want this kind of all-out pursuit with God. But what does this look like in today’s culture?

I think part of what it means is breaking old habits to create space in my heart for new growth.

In reality, God desires our sacrifice — our turning from selfish ways — not for His benefit, but for ours. For instance, I stopped watching TV for a season. I realized I was turning on the TV when I felt most depleted —and when I’m most depleted, I soak up deeply whatever I take in. Why would I want to soak in deeply the entertainment of this world and not things that breathe life back into me? I broke the old habit of watching television and created space in my heart for new growth.

Another example is my commitment to do nothing else each morning — including checking my phone or turning on the computer—before I open up God’s Word. I used to wake up eager to tune in to the world. I’d soon be sucked into answering this email, reading that Twitter post, and returning phone calls. Before I knew it, half my day was gone, and I hadn’t let God prepare my heart for any of it. So I broke the old habit and created space in my heart for new growth.

Right now, I’m intentionally sacrificing sugar and processed foods that turn into sugar once consumed. Yes, I want to maintain my weight loss. But this journey is so much more than just that. It really is about learning to tell myself no and learning to make wiser choices daily. And somehow becoming a woman of self-discipline honors God and helps me live the godly characteristic of self-control. Giving up sugar was hard at first—really hard, like crying-big-crocodile-tears hard. But I broke the old habit and created space in my heart for growth.

Am I saying all my Jesus girlfriends need to do the same? No more TV? No checking your computer and phone first thing in the morning? No sugar? Nope. These aren’t things I think everyone needs to do. They were personal practices for my own benefit. I’m not asking you to follow me; I’m saying to follow wholeheartedly after God. Ask Him. Seek Him. Do what He tells you.

If we want to grow closer to God, we’ll have to distance ourselves from whatever is distracting us. Break the old habit and create space in your heart for new growth. And closeness will soon bloom.