Watch the video above and talk about it with a group or mentor. Learn more.

We must all learn to overcome fear, walk by the Spirit, and live in the freedom that comes with a pursuit of God.

Many of us grew up living our parents’ faith and believed in God intellectually, but have not yet decided to walk in relationship with God for ourselves. Many people raised in religious or Christian households go to church, read the Bible, and learn to pray because it is the rhythm of their lives. But there is more to knowing God than knowing about God and doing “Christian” things simply because we are raised to do so.

[Related: Facing Fear]

Knowing God the Holy Spirit

Many of us don’t truly know God the Holy Spirit. The Bible says we are sealed by the Spirit when we believe (Ephesians 1:13-14) and that the Spirit is how we know we belong to God (1 John 3:24; 4:13). This does not necessarily mean we don’t believe in Christ or aren’t saved, but it does mean that many of us aren’t walking in the full blessings God gives to those who follow and love him.

[Related: Who is the Holy Spirit?]

Open Yourself to the Spirit’s Work

We must actively decide to make our faith our own and to ask God to teach us by the Holy Spirit. God will answer and show us what has been holding us back. We must learn that the solution to fear is seeking God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.

When we embrace the freedom that comes from pursuing God by knowing Jesus Christ and walking by the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:16,) God will begin showing us his particular will for our lives. This will allow you to pursue God with your whole heart and live out his particular will for your life during the season you’re in.

[Related: Something Every Girl Needs to Hear]

Many of us are living as “spiritual paupers,” hanging on to the faith of our parents or to our religious heritage instead of actively choosing to pursue God ourselves and enjoying the spiritual riches he has lavished on us. Even some of us who came to faith later in life can fall into this trap! While it is good to know things about God, it is much more important that we know God personally and walk by the Spirit he has given us (Romans 5:5; 2 Corinthians 3:17). Choose this today for yourself.

[Related: How to Make Your Faith Your Own]

Article for this topic by Daniel Martin.
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Key Points:

  • Many people raised in Christian households never make their faith their own.
  • We need to seek and know God the Holy Spirit.
  • We must actively choose to open ourselves to God the Holy Spirit if we want to see him working in us.
  • We can choose to live in spiritual riches or spiritual poverty. The choice is ours.

Quote This:

Ephesians 1:13-14 And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.

See Also: Holy Spirit, Freedom

Talk About It
  1. What is your initial reaction to this topic? What jumped out at you?
  2. What are some of the fears you face on a regular basis? Make a list.
  3. Read Galatians 5:1. How can you apply this verse in your life?
  4. Read Galatians 5:22-23. How does the Holy Spirit help us in our pursuit of God?
  5. Do you feel like you need freedom in an area of your life? Explain.
  6. Write a personal action step based on this conversation.

This topic is adapted from the LiveGF1 YouTube channel.

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