It can be one thing to start something and another to finish. I suspect every one of us has found this to be true in some aspect of our lives. At the start of a marriage, for instance, there is excitement and a high level of engagement. As time goes on it is easy to let life take over, to get lazy and pay less attention to those things that we once practiced to keep our marriage vital.

The same is true in our spiritual lives. Think of what your faith was like when you first believed. How excited you were to discover the things of God. The time you spent in Scripture and prayer, the desire to use your gifts in ministry and how easy it was to share with others your new-found faith. Compare those days to today. Is there a difference in your engagement with God, in your ministry or desire to please Him?

Going the distance with Jesus is the challenge for each of us. In Colossians 2:6-7, Paul gives us some clues as to how we can do this. “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”

The key word here is “continue.” Continue to live in Him. Continue to be rooted and built up in Him. Continue to be strengthened in the faith as you were taught. Continue to be overflowing in thankfulness.

Spiritual vibrancy does not just happen. We need to nurture it, pay attention to it and be intentional about it. Spiritual vibrancy is impossible without regular time with Jesus. In John 15, Jesus says,”I am the vine, you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” Every day we make a choice as to whether we will invest in our spiritual lives by remaining in Him.

Just as we need Jesus, we need fellow Christ followers who will encourage us, walk the journey with us and sharpen our faith as we sharpen theirs. The Jesus life was not meant to be lived in isolation from others. Fellowship and community are a hallmark of the New Testament church and the life of Jesus with His disciples.

Then there is the admonition to continue to be overflowing with thankfulness. Those who overflow with thankfulness to God are people who are remembering God in all of life. Thankfulness is a constant reminder of God’s blessings in our lives which in turn keeps us connected to Him in a daily, moment by moment way. I have learned to say a quiet “Thank you Jesus” throughout my day and each time I am reminded of God’s presence and goodness to me. I do it quietly but audibly so my own ears hear it. 

What is your strategy for continuing in your faith and keeping that faith vital? Today, meditate on what it means to continue so that you don’t lose your spiritual vitality.

Father. It is easy for me to lose my vital connection with you in the busyness and distractions of life. Help me to continue in a vibrant and ever strengthening faith and to live with moment by moment thankfulness for your amazing work in my life. Amen.