This set of suggestions is a process, and I do not believe you should disregard any of the steps mentioned: prayer, blessing others, Bible reading, church attendance, submission, and journaling. You may refer back any portion, at any time, and in any order. The order to complete these areas is not as important as improving in each category. When restoration has come, and you begin to grow again, do not back off any of these principles! The Christian journey is one of continual growth until we see Him face to face!
Doors will begin to open. The hesitation you feel will fade. You will reestablish your Kingdom purpose. You will encourage yourself to succeed and rejoice in others’ successes. You will develop to realize your potential. You will use a blessing tongue in all sincerity. You will focus on the unity and the mission of the Church.
The old song goes, “All to Jesus, I surrender, All to Thee I freely give, I will ever love and trust Him, In His presence daily live” (I Surrender All, Van De Venter, 1896). We need to live it daily. We need to wake up in the morning and tell ourselves, “I am made for more. How can I improve my relationship with the Master today? What steps do I need to take to press to the next level in Christ?”
I’ve done it. I’m still working on improving myself. You can and will do it; I believe in you! Follow the steps, dig through the resources, and do not attempt this alone. When we get to the point that we need each other to succeed just as badly as we would like to grow, we begin to have “Christ formed in us” and be the Church that He came to establish.
Pray with me for your continued success in life and the Kingdom. Jesus, help my friend in their endeavor to reestablish their strained relationship with you. We earnestly seek your Spirit and guidance to progress toward our potential and fulfill the purpose you have equipped us to accomplish. We hold tightly to the word of our testimony that will not only enable us to overcome in this life but may help someone else along the way. Lord, we rejoice in hope; are patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; (Romans 12:12). We are Your workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which You hath before ordained that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:10). For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39). You are still making ways in the wilderness and rivers in the desert! (Isaiah 43:19) In the all-powerful, mercy-flowing, soul-restoring name of Jesus, amen.