Spiritual Growth

We are learning about spiritual growth in my class now. It's has been wonderful. The whole reason I started this class was to grow in the Lord, so this topic was, of course, of particular interest to me. Anyhow, we have learned how to get better at spending time with God on a daily basis and how to get the most of our time. One suggestion is 15 minutes with God where you spend roughly:
1 minute relaxing and getting your mind on God.
4 minutes reading a verse or 2.
4 minutes reflecting on that verse, using SPACEPETS, which I will elaborate on in a bit.
2 minutes recording what God did.
4 minutes in prayer, to request God's help in applying what you learned and whatever else is appropriate at the time.

SPACEPETS is a helpful acronym used to help you pick apart the scripture you've just read and really get the most out of it. You are suppose to consider the following:
Is there any:
Sin to confess?
Promise to claim?
Attitude to change?
Command to follow?
Example to follow?
Prayer to pray?
Error to avoid?
Truth to believe?
Something to thank God for?

Sometimes the answer to some of these is no, but for the most part it really helps to give you direction to meditate on the verses in front of you. It allows for God to speak to you through the verses when you really spend time on them. After all, it is the living Word. Hebrews 4:12
Here is a great study I did on Job 37:1-13 using this technique.

Sin to confess?- Not praising God no matter what the weather. Not praising Him for the little things and the big things. Not praising Him in bad times as well as good times.

Promise to claim?- No

Attitude to change?- Never complain about weather or other acts of God, but realize that they are all orchestrated by God who has a perfect plan. Sometimes what he does is for discipline, and other times simply for love and to provide us with what we need or just to enjoy. We should always praise God, even in the storms.

Command to keep?- no

Example to follow?- Elihu is setting an example of how we should praise God and marvel at His powerful abilities. Even something as small as snow or rain is bigger than we think, in the whole scheme of things. God is in control and we should follow Elihu’s example by praising God for everything, both big and small, “bad” and good. God is always to be praised.

Prayer to pray?- Lord, You are amazing. You are awesome in all your works. Lord I pray that I will always be mindful of your woundrous works. I pray that I will always be attentive to your voice when you speak to me. I pray that I will remember to praise in the beautiful weather and the storms, all the same, for You are God, and Your will is perfect. Help me to always remember this for You are always worthy of my praise, no matter what I am going through. Praise Your Holy name. In Jesus name, Amen.

Error to avoid?- I should avoid getting so wrapped up in daily life and busyness, that I fail to see His beauty and wonderful works in everything I encounter throughout my day.

Truth to believe?- God is in control and everything He does, is for good, whether it be discipline or reward.

Something to thank God for?- Thank You Lord that You are in control and that I can praise You for all Your works both big and small. What I perceive as bad always turns out for good in the end, so I thank You that I can rest in that and always bring praise to you, even in the storms. Your plan is perfect! Thank you Lord. Nothing is small, and nothing is bad, when You are in control, and I am mindful of Your wondrous works. In Jesus name, Amen.