Co-laboring with God leads to greater productivity

Spiritual growth is an inward change that then alters our behavior, thoughts, and actions. This growth isn’t automatic like physical growth of children, unfortunately. As Christians, we need to make choices to grow. As Romans 8:29 tells us, ‘For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.’ We are being conformed to the image of Christ. The Holy Spirit works within us, in collaboration with us, to form us more like Christ. The key is that collaboration. As in, co-labor.

I have been laboring to produce a video script for an expanded study, but I was getting in the way of progress. It took the Spirit telling me (reminding me?) that God was the one who would speak and not me. It might be my words, but it was his power that would do something with the words (1 Cor 2:4-5). It is my job to do one thing, but it is God’s work that finishes it or makes it effective. I was laboring on my own instead of trusting that God was laboring with me.

I see this as a lesson I have had to learn over and over: co-laboring is more productive. How many times have I gone off on my own and made nothing but a mess, or more of a mess! It has been in the (constant) reminders of the Spirit that keep me on track and moving forward. It hasn’t always been ‘easy’ to collaborate with the Lord.

How to Co-labor: Prayer

Over the years I have gotten better at hearing the Spirit sooner that I used to. I think that is a sign of spiritual growth. The most obvious discipline that I can think of that has impacted me in improved hearing is allowing for time to hear the Lord during my prayers. I devised a simple prayer journal that included a sizeable space to record what God was telling me. I knew I needed to intentionally seek to hear the Lord. I needed to choose to have a two-way conversation so I could collaborate with him!

At first, I spent time in silence. Gradually I began to record what I felt He was saying to me during the day, usually they were general, about his love for me. Now I record his direction about specific projects and people I’ve prayed for. I still sit in silence at times too, it isn’t everyday that I ‘hear’ the Lord.

Benefit of Co-laboring with God: Greater Productivity

‘But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed’ (Luke 5:16). I think that Jesus too needed to pray in order to co-labor effectively. Because Jesus already had the character as God (John 1:1) and knew who he was, I think he talked with God to have communion and friendship with him and to understand his priorities. As collaborators of Christ, we too need these things – communion or friendship with God and to understand his priorities for us.

Now that I hear the Lord and know him better, I am able to co-labor with greater productivity and greater confirmation of the words that I write or speak. This week I stopped to think about how I wasn’t getting anywhere in working toward my goals, and it wasn’t because I was doing things God put in front of me that were of greater priority. It was because I was looking at myself and my ability instead of looking at him. Instead of co-laboring, I was procrastinating.

I understood, or ‘heard’, a gentle rebuke but it was more an encouragement that now I knew the problem, we could address it. I turned around and got one part of the project done in 45 minutes! I really see how prayer and co-laboring go hand in hand.

What are you working on with God in this time?