Daily writing prompt

What notable things happened today?

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I am so fortunate. I get out of bed every morning with a calling and a purpose. I wake up with something burning in my heart and I feel called to share it. I post it on social media and on this blog. Here are some of the notable thoughts that I woke up with today.

Paul (the writer of much of the New Testament part of the Bible) “traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.” (Acts 18:23.) He was a personal trainer. Paul coached Christian groups and individuals to help people get in spiritual shape. He trained them to be led by God’s Spirit.

Paul explained his calling to coach Christ-followers in Ephesians chapter four. “Christ Himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip His people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.”

In the 21st century God wants to once again give the body of Christ personal trainers, men and women who will “equip His people” so they can attain “to the whole measure of the fulness of Christ.” The body of Christ needs personal coaches who will train and disciple Christians to be continually and spontaneously led by the Spirit. Will you be one?

Every time a Christ-follower listens to and obeys the risen Jesus they take a giant step in faith. “Christ in you” really is “the hope of glory.”

Here are some notable ways spiritual personal trainers can disciple Christ-followers to be continually led by God’s Spirit in the 21st century:

• Create an environment of heart-to-heart community.
• Frequently pray Spirit-led prayers with other people.
• Give people hands-on practice in listening to and obeying the risen Jesus.
• Coach people to share their salvation testimony with other believers and with nonbelievers.
• Set up training sessions where people can practice ministering to one another.
• Open up church services so people are free to listen to the living Jesus and to publicly share whatever He tells them during the service.
• Coach people how to cultivate the fruit of the Spirit in their heart and in their lifestyle.
• Train people to open their heart and follow the Holy Spirit in free-flowing praise and worship.
• Give people opportunities to operate in the gifts of the Spirit and help them be more effective as they do.
• Give people training in how to see God in the beauty that surrounds them and in the circumstances that occur in their daily lives.
• Train people to read the Bible while keeping their heart sensitive to the voice of God’s Spirit.
• Coach people to seek and maintain and ever-increasing hunger for the presence of the risen Jesus.