Did you go on a holiday over the summer break? Along with about half of Hong Kong, I was able to enjoy a trip to Japan last month. However, if you are anything like me, chances are that you brought back with you a lot more than you bargained for…
These might include: a few extra pounds thanks to eating lots of great food, a slight sunburn, some fatigue, and post-holiday blues (to name a few). In all seriousness though, I’m glad that international holidays are only temporary affairs as opposed to migration, where you are committing to a move. You get to escape “normal life” and live in a fantasy for a while. But it’s important to return to reality at some point. As wonderful as they can be, going on holidays throws you off your daily routines. It can be difficult to get your daily dose of fruits and vegetables when fresh sashimi is beckoning you at every meal. It’s harder to commit to your daily Bible reading in the morning when you’re waking up in a capsule hotel.
It’s easy to get spiritually out-of-shape when we aren’t following routine habits and disciplines
That’s why I’m really glad our church’s “normal routines” resume in September. I’m not just saying this because I work here, but I genuinely did miss my weekly Oxygen bible study group gatherings. It’s easy to get spiritually out-of-shape when we aren’t following routine habits and disciplines, both individually and corporately. Reading the Bible by myself is great, but it’s also essential for me to regularly be sharpened by God’s word as I sit beneath it alongside my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ in fruitful discussion as iron sharpens iron. It’s a great privilege to be able to pray directly to God on my own, but it’s also so nourishing for my soul when I am able to pray together with my church family every month at our prayer meetings.
Here at St Andrew’s, we run a lot of regular groups, courses, and events to encourage people to read the Bible and pray together. Have you ever wondered why?
It’s not just because we are massive nerds who are obsessed with the “system” and running courses for the sake of it. No, it’s because we understand that as human beings, we are creatures of habit. So we want to be as helpful as possible to make it as easy as possible for people to develop good spiritual habits for Christian growth.
Are you not yet involved in a Growth Group? Join one now!
Have you never attended our monthly prayer meetings? Put the next one in your diary (first Monday of every month)!
If you’ve gotten a bit “out of shape” (spiritually speaking) over the summer, why not take this chance to make a fresh start to put healthy habits in place? It’s worth it.
