Living out Spiritual Maturity

2 Corinthians 6:6 “We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love.”

Colossians 1:11 “We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy.”

Waiting patiently can be a test of our spiritual maturity. When we are impatient, while we wait, we demonstrate an attitude of arrogance and anger — after all, the world resolves around us, right? Um no. I think we can all relate to the frustration of having to wait for someone or something, even waiting on God’s promises to be fulfilled, can be challenging.

Impatience can demonstrate immaturity and insensitivity to another person. It implies irritation, frustration and anger, that our right for whatever isn’t being fulfilled. When we show patience, we are self-controlled and others-centered. It is not all about me.

Patience is a virtue and it is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, as identified in Galatians 5:22-23, “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. There is no law against these things!”

The fruit of patience is listed between peace and kindness. If the fruit of peace has not been cultivated in our lives, we’re not as likely to have the evidence of the fruit of patience. However, if we have the fruit of patience, we’re ready to exercise kindness. So by being patient, we are declaring that we have peace and can give kindness as we wait with endurance.

We can choose to practice patience as we wait for people and as we wait for God to answer prayer, because as a follower of Christ, we are filled with the Holy Spirit and empowered by Him as He cultivates spiritual fruit, including patience. The Holy Spirit of God empowers us to be patient while we wait. Submitting to God’s Spirit is key to spiritual maturity as evidenced by allowing Him to cultivate the fruit of the Spirit.

My Why

I have experienced renewal and hope through my relationship with God and I wanted a way to share it, so more people might receive encouragement through an encounter with God.

I meditate on Scripture (God’s Word) and write what God shows me. I call these “words of encouragement,” as applying God’s Word “prepares and equips his people to do every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:17)

God is leading me through a process of receiving more of His love, grace and truth, in what I have called “adventures with the Holy Spirit,” because I am trusting Him as He guides me through prayer, counseling and writing about these encounters in my journal.

It is this journey of renewed hope that I intend to blog, as a way to steward well what has been entrusted to me. I am certain that God’s amazing love and His steadfast Presence is enough to bring breakthrough when you have come to a breaking point in your life.

God did it for me, He is able to do it for you.

My prayer is that many would receive hope and encouragement as you read my journey and that it would lead you to transformative encounters of new places of trust and obedience within a relationship with God.

Identity Crisis?

At restaurants I call myself “Grace,” instead of using my real name, “Vianne,” because it’s easier to pronounce for most people.

Sometimes people express an interest in my name, as most people have never met a Vianne, so I explain how I got my name. I was named after my two grandmothers, Vi is for Violet, and Anne is for Anna. Sometimes I say, “It’s like Diane, only with a V.” For some reason, people hear “V” so they’ll call me “VeeAnn,” or “Vivian,” or “Diane.”

So at times I will assign me as “Grace,” as I sure need more grace when others mispronounce or misspell my name!

The name Anne actually means gracious or bearing grace. I have received much grace from God. I can give grace because I have received it in abundance.

I am not having an identity crisis. I am rediscovering my identity in Christ — I am someone who is filled to an overflowing abundance with GRACE, because the Spirit of God lives inside of me.

I am thankful that God knows my name. The Scripture in Isaiah 43:1 confirms it. “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine.”