How to Live Missionally {#31Days of Living Missionally-Day 1}

For ten years of my Christian life I thought I could live the Christian life if I just tried hard enough.  I approached the Bible as a book of do’s and don’ts. I even remember one time when I was irritated at God because of how He organized the Bible. I couldn't understand why He didn’t just make a huge long list. I thought if I had a list of everything I should and shouldn’t do, then I would be the best Christian to ever walk the planet. I believed if I just knew everything expected of me then I could do it.  

My motives were to be pleasing to the Lord and I knew I was truly accepted by the Lord regardless of my actions, but I didn’t trust Him to bring about the transformation in my heart. I took on the responsibility of sanctifying (being made more like Christ) myself. I believed it was by grace that God had rescued me from hell, but it was by my effort and trying really hard that I lived the good Christian life. 

I didn't realize that we can do nothing eternal apart from the Lord. I didn't understand that we can know the right thing to do and yet not do it. 

The reality is it’s impossible to do what our spirit desires to do apart from the Spirit of God enabling us. {Tweet this} The law exists to show us we need Jesus. Knowing what we should and shouldn't do doesn't enable us to do it. It takes relying on the strength of the Holy Spirit, remaining connected to Him as a vine is to a branch to be able to do the things the Lord desires of us.

Basically, we just all need Jesus a lot. I love how Paul says it, in your face and to the point. No beating around the bush with him. "Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?" Gal. 3:3 Here it is in the message, "Are you going to continue this craziness? For only crazy people would think they could complete by their own efforts what was begun by God. If you weren't smart enough or strong enough to begin it, how do you suppose you could perfect it?"

So how do you know if you are being led and empowered by the Holy Spirit? 
The fruit of the Spirit is not something we can conjure up out of trying hard. Fruit only grows as it stays connected to the vine. {Tweet this} The same with us, we only bear fruit-the character of God- if we stay connected to Him. God's part is to bear the fruit in our hearts which falls out of mouths. Our part is to live yielded to Him.

What works for me is to use the fruit of the Spirit as a temperature gauge of my heart. I ask myself, "Am I being patient, gentle, self-controlled?" "Am I filled with joy, peace?" If not then it is obvious that I am not being empowered and controlled by the Holy Spirit.

This video explains a simple diagram that you can draw for people to help bring understanding. Get a piece of paper and after watching try to draw and explain it yourself and share it with someone today.

Check out the rest of the series here.

---

Did you benefit from this? 

If so, we have a FREE book for you! All of this and more is in our book, Missional Life; A Practical Guide to Living in Light of Eternity. 
Sign up here. 

And we have a ton of other FREE stuff for you: Printables, Bible Studies, Videos, Book Recommendations, Giant List of Blog Hop/Link Ups and more. Spend some time exploring the site. 

---

Check out the rest of the series

About Laura

Laura, the creator and host of Missional Women is married and has four kids, two of whom are adopted. Laura and her husband have been missionaries to college students for 11 years serving with Master Plan Ministries. Laura is the Staff Women's Development Coordinator and has discipled over 150 girls, led over 30 Bible studies and speaks 10-20 times a year. Laura is an award winning author of a 12 week Bible Study on First Samuel, Beholding Him, Becoming Missional, recently released Reach; How to Use Your Social Media Influence for the Glory of God, and A Devotional Journey through Judges, a devotional to accompany the free online Bible study at TheBookofJudges.com. You can find her on facebook,twitter, pinterest, youtube, instagram and her author site.

---

Want to read more from this contributor? Put her name in the search box at the top.  
Sharing this article over at these awesome blogs