SPIRITUAL GROWTH ARTICLES
for the
Christian Woman

CREATE MARGIN

1. Create Margin
   
2. Hearken!
   
3. Invite the Lord’s Chastening through Obedience
   
4. Believe and Abide, (3 parts)
   
5. Simply Surrender
   
6. Worship and Pray Without Ceasing
   
7. Be Content and Hope in Christ
8. Wisely Steward Your Liberty in Christ
   

If relationships are suffering in your life, begin to evaluate how your life is currently structured. How do you manage your time?

Often if you are at the place of quiet desperation, an examination of your life will reveal that you are involved in too much busyness with not enough margin.

This quote from The Sound of Music is one to ponder: “A life of busyness gives the appearance of a life of purpose.” Often busyness provides people with a superficial identity but not with the time to be changed by and established in God’s will for their lives.

Do you identify with any of these roles?

• PTA mom
• stay-at-home/work-from-home mom
• homeschooling mom
• soccer mom
• mom of gifted child, ADD child, dyslexic child, (any labeled) child
• keeper at home
• Bible study leader or participant
• pillar in the church
• pastor’s wife
• worship team member
• Sunday school teacher
• youth group leader
• helps ministry coordinator
• business and/or career woman

While none of these roles is detrimental, all of them can stunt or stop your growth if you find your identity in them.

As you grow spiritually, you can be released from the superficial performance identities of these roles to the depth and height of maturity in Christ. Through walking with Him in willingness and obedience, He will equip you for what is truly your own business as you find your identity in Him.

May the God of peace… equip you in every good thing to do His will. ~Hebrews 13:21 That the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. ~II Timothy 3:17 The first step to growing spiritually is purposefully creating margin in your life. Lay down those roles that take up time and cloud your mind with superficial busyness. Let His Spirit speak to yours about what roles you could put on hold for a while to create the margin you need in your life to begin the process that will release you to love—both to receive His love and ultimately to minister His love to others. If you find your identity in any of these roles, letting go of them will feel like you are letting go of your self. In a way, you are! As you release your superficial activity and watch it fade away without much fanfare as others assume your tasks, you will come face to face with who you really are—sometimes an ugly revelation—not who you want others to think you are and perhaps not even who you yourself believe you are. Facing your “self” opens your eyes to your need for His Life (Isaiah 6:5). Let the process of spiritual growth begin by arranging your life with margin. Be aggressive as you cut back to the bare minimum.

Personal Note The following two books helped clarify my own mind as I was purposefully creating margin:

Read about one mom’s process of creating margin here.

Go to Part 2 of this series, Hearken!

1. Create Margin
   Purposefully develop an environment that fosters spiritual growth.

2. Hearken!
   Cultivate discerning the meaning of His message to you.
   
   • God Leads Us Through What We Know
   • Hearing His Voice through the Din
   • Hearing His Confirming Voice
   • Hearing His Voice through a Child

3. Invite the Lord’s Chastening through Obedience
   Obey—through your personal conduct—the seemingly little things God has set before you.
   
   • Distinguish Between Works and Obedience
     A practical example
     
   • Love is Born of God
     A Failing Marriage Testimony

4. Believe and Abide, Part 1 of 3
   Believe and Abide, Part 2 of 3
   Believe and Abide, Part 3 of 3
   Believe Him as you abide and be released to love.

5. Simply Surrender
   Now that the flesh has no power over you, walk in the Light and simply surrender.

6. Worship and Pray Without Ceasing
   God seeks you to worship in spirit and in truth moment by moment.

7. Be Content and Hope in Christ
   Serve the Living God, in Whom you find your contentment.

8. Wisely Steward Your Liberty
   You are free indeed! Praise the Lord!

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