it takes more than a good blog post {or Bible study} for change

Knowledge puffs up the mind or frustrates it and does nothing for the soul or spirit of a person. And it definitely does not make true change.

For years, I've been involved with various "Bible study" groups. Primarily it would involve a lengthy workbook on one side, my Bible on the other, and a pencil or pen jotting down the answers to questions.

Of all the years, there was only one study book I did not agree with.

Mostly, they were good. As a way to fellowship with others, I participated in many.

But this year, I've been learning that no matter how good the study book is, unless the Spirit gives me revelation on the matter then it is all just information.

Information becomes a slippery rope: in one ear and sliding out the next. In the past, I tried to grasp the learning process while in the study. I tried hard to cram information to make change in my life.

But what I ended up with {after a good study}, was my attempt to work things out in my own strength, beating my body into some mold or some {new} way of thinking. Eventually I was worn out by my own efforts or simply gave up from the futility of it.

What I am finding is that we do not affect change within ourselves by information alone, but by the Spirit of God Himself. Which means, I can blog 'til I am blue in the face, but if you do not have revelation of what God is saying to you about something, then the words will be just plain ol' words.

Nothing more.

It takes the Spirit to breathe life into words which become inspiration and revelation that blows across our hearts. They are like "aha!" moments. And we need to be "aha!"ed to continue growing and going deeper with Him. His ways are higher than ours mean, who has time for boredom when climbing the mountain of faith?

And especially, when we are challenged by our own denominational upbringings, we shouldn't be afraid to face those too. I experienced tremendous bewilderment when I began to see my denominational restrictions unravel as I had revelation about scriptures.

I asked God: "What am I supposed to do with THAT? I am at XYZ {denomination}, now what? How am I supposed to go on since I am no longer blissfully ignorant?"

We should never be {spiritually} content. Oh the danger of when we plop down and say, "Here I am. I am so glad I am here in my safe and known denomination or church or people or {fill in the blank}. I think I will stay."

Instead, we must be willing to be flung out of our nest and learn to soar with God to ever greater heights.

And that takes more than a blog post or a good "Bible study", it takes the Spirit of God Himself to move those boundaries we've placed within us. We must never tire of going on with the Lord.

Going on means, setting out for unchartered ground where our only compass is Christ through the Holy Spirit, perhaps with a dash of fear mixed in with faith for good measure. Only then, I've found, do we rely ever more on Him because He is the only one who can see the unknown, and know.