Growth Group

During this time of trial, I figure I have two choices. (1) sit around, sulk and have a pity party for myself, or (2) turn it around and use it as an opportunity to get closer to God. I choose 2. One way in which I am seeking to get closer to the Lord is through fellowship. Specifically, at this stage in my walk, I am seeking fellowship with those who are farther along in their walk and more spirutually mature. Not to say that fellowship with my peers isn't valuable. That has been extremely valuable and such a blessing during this time. I continue to seek that but what I currently lack is fellowship of more spiritually mature Christians. Fellowship is so important during this time too because when isolated, you are the most vulnerable to attacks from the enemy.

"Be self controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings." 1 Peter 5:8-9.

Like a lion who tries to isolate its prey by separating it from the pack, the devil wants you to be isolated so he can have his way with you. And let me tell you, living alone, I spend a lot of time in isolation and it is true - the devil attacks hardest when you are by yourself. It is so important to be in fellowship with others because as the verse said, others are going through the same kind of sufferings. The walk of a Christian isn't meant to be walked alone. God puts people in our lives so that we can encourage and sharpen one another.

On friday evening, I found an awesome growth groups in the city. I had been debating whether to go to this group in the city or to my church where they were having their weekly young adult service. I chose the former, hoping to meet the kind of people I needed to meet. And that I did. It was no coincidence that I ended up in this particular group. Filled with people who are older and more spirutually mature in their walk, it was exactly what I needed. Everybody was so loving and just awesome to me, especially Suzanna and Justin, the couple that hosted and led the group. It was so encouraging to hear everybody's testimonies and to hear how God has worked in their lives. One woman was healed from stage 4 cancer. Another man has been totally transformed from a man who was instensely addicted to crystal meth and who abused his wife (they're still together. she was there with their little son) to a God loving, family loving, man who after one day of powerful prayer and being filled with the Holy Spirit, has not touched the drug ever since. It was so awesome to be in a room full of God loving people just immersed in the Word. I shared my testimony and felt led to share my trials with the group. They all prayed for me. We all prayed for each other. After everybody left, I ended up staying and talked to Suzanna and Justin for a few more hours. One of the many spiritual gifts that God gave Suzanna was the gift of wisdom. I felt led to share with them more details about my situation and as I was talking, Suzanna was able to spit out the exact verses that I needed to hear. It's also inspiring to see how God is using the gift that He gave her to advance His kingdom. Never having painted in her life, her husband one day bought her a set just to play with and after dabbling with it she quickly became skilled. So skilled that their is a high demand for her work. She now has shows and even had a piece in city hall. She paints chinese paintings of flowers and other scenery (sorry, there's probably a term for it but I don't know it). It was inspiring to hear her stories of how God has used her artwork as a vehicle to draw people to Christ. We ended the night in another prayer. They laid their hands over me and prayed a long prayer asking God to help me through this trial and also asking God to reveal to me my spiritual gifts, which I haven't found yet, so that I may use them for His glory. I ended up leaving at 12:30am! But what an awesome night. Praise God!