How much do you know about the Christian faith? Now I realise that for some people that question can be as challenging as asking “How often do you pray?” or “How long is your daily Quiet Time?” These are areas where we can so easily feel inadequate because, I would suggest, we assume that everyone else is streets ahead, and we are the only ones who struggle. The truth is of course that there are folk who don’t struggle, for whom a daily time with reading the scriptures and prayer is an integral part of their lives. And there is no doubt that that is an excellent discipline. At the same time, many do struggle for a whole variety of reasons, and it is unhelpful to make assumptions about others and the strength of their faith. The problem is, that guilt enters the frame, and that tends to lower our resolve to improve. If we do struggle with this area it is so easy to give up and just survive. At theological college, every lecturer began the lesson with prayer, except one. He held that prayer for him was part of every moment and he didn’t need to keep putting it into words. The point of the illustration is not to say what was right or wrong, but more simply that there are different approaches to the same challenge. Fact is God does want us to grow in our knowledge and understanding. He does want to develop his relationship with us through prayer. He has given us the Bible to teach us. It does take effort to grow, but it is worth it. Growth comes through serving, that is by getting involved, by going to one of our excellent Home Groups, or perhaps by attending one of the courses on offer. As Peter wrote “Like newborn babes, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good”. 1 Peter 2:2

Christ Church Weston-super-Mare is part of the Diocese of Bath & Wells
and is a Registered UK Charity Number 257529.