I love everything about summer (writing in the northern hemisphere). I love the weather, activities, free time, and the opportunities to grow and learn new things. I have had extremely fruitful summers, and I’ve also squandered my summer vacations.
As a Christian, I understand my responsibility to redeem the time so I’ve been actively reevaluating where and on what do I spend it. Through my self-evaluation, I’ve complied three things that have helped me make the most of my summer.
Read the Word
I love the gift of God’s Word. As I take time to open God’s Word I understand that God is speaking directly to me! I appreciate the fact that God’s Word never changes. The Bible has been my sure foundation and source of expectant hope.
I’ve adopted a Bible reading plan for myself that takes me through the entire Bible. I’ve love reading the accounts in the Old Testament and studying through the doctrines of the New Testament while getting daily wisdom in the Proverb of the day.
Get involved
There are endless ways to get involved with a local church ministry. From a parking-lot greeter to sharing a sermon from the pulpit, the opportunities are waiting for you! Working at Calvary Chapel Bible College and Conference Center in Murrieta, CA has opened my eyes to the various types of ministries that are waiting for people to come and help!
There are youth camps that need counselors, worship teams that need instrumentalists and vocalists, and doors that need greeters. I ask myself how God would want me to get involved and He has been faithful to point me in the right direction. I am also reminded in 1 Peter chapter 4, verse 10 that everyone who is in Christ has a spiritual gift that they are responsible to use for God’s glory!
If you don’t know your spiritual gifts, look for opportunities to serve! As you step out in faith, God will confirm and/ or grow spiritual gifts in you that you may have never known about.
Seek vision
With intentional prayer, God has been faithful to direct my life. I am reminded that God desires to tell me everything that He has planned for me as it agrees with His wisdom in what I need to know at the moment. Many times in scripture, I see Jesus teaching His disciples to continually ask, seek, and knock to receive from God.
I love that Jesus invites us to ask God for what we need with the promise that we will receive from Him in His perfect timing.
Your turn
Dear Reader, I hope that we together are willing to make the most out of our summer by investing in our relationship with Jesus. Remember it’s great to take vacations; just don’t take vacations from Jesus. As we set out and make a game plan for this summer, ask God on how you can better know Him and His will for our life.
God is waiting and He’s willing to give you everything that we need. Will we take your turn and own our relationship with Him?
Aaron serves in Murrieta, CA and is a pastor at Calvary Chapel Vista
Aaron Sabio’s previous articles may be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/aaron-sabio.html