I have joined my fellow co-workers in a step challenge. Together as a team, we are “competing” against several other companies in the Longmont area to see who can walk the most steps in the month of May.

So I got prepared. I bought a little bracelet (a cheap one) that keeps track of my steps. It does a lot more, but the steps were the main goal. I really thought I took more steps than I do in a day’s time, but once I put on the bracelet, I knew I was in trouble.

My daily job keeps me at a desk most of the time. My hobbies (writing Scripture and writing a blog) keep me sitting all the time I’m working on these things. I do Bible study. Again sitting. I drive in a car everywhere I go. Again sitting down. I relax in front of television, sitting down. So I think you get the picture. I sit a lot.

I hate to admit it, but there have been some days that I’ve only walked 1,000 to 2,000 steps. And on the days when I was traveling and walking through airports I still didn’t break the 10,000 step barrier.

UGH! How discouraging, right?

I figured out pretty quickly, that this steps thing would have to be intentional on my part. I couldn’t just expect all those steps to happen on their own. And the real motivation was when I plopped in my numbers, I was the last one on the list at Rocky.

So now I am more aware of how long I’ve been sitting and I get up and walk. I walk through my lunch break. I walk instead of being idle during down times. I get up off the couch during commercials and walk a figure eight pattern through my house.

Folks, your spiritual development is much the same. In order for spiritual growth to happen, you (and I) must be intentional. It’s not enough to expect this to happen on its own. You must do your part.

Take a look at Paul’s encouraging words to the Colossians in chapter 1, verses 9-12 (NIV).

“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray that in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way; bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.”

As a believer of Christ, it’s time for each of us to grow in the knowledge of God. Sitting idly by and wondering if it’s going to happen isn’t an option. You must do your part.

So I ask you today, what are you doing to grow in God’s knowledge? How are you allowing God’s Word and His Spirit to work in your life? What fruit are you bearing? These are all signs of spiritual development and they all take effort on your part.

Peter reminded his readers to “make every effort” (2 Peter 1:5-8) to keep growing and developing. That means, put your all into it. Don’t let it take a back seat. Keep moving toward the goal.

Now I could just sit back in this steps challenge and be the person on our team with the least steps this month, but I don’t want to let my team down. I want to show them that I want to do this with them and that my input will have an impact.

How much more important is it that we show God that we are part of His team and that we want to do our part and that we are willing to give it all we have? That’s kingdom work.

I will admit, it takes more effort than I ever thought to get in 10,000 steps a day with my schedule, but I’m trying. I’m making an effort. I’m giving it my all. And to be honest, I believe that’s all my team is asking me to do. Go Team Rocky!

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Donna