One of my goals as a minister of the gospel is to help people connect with God in ways they had not thought about. One of the problems in reching this goal is most of us do not like to be stretched in new ways and we are comfortable with the way we have always done things even though they may no longer work. A friend of mine once defined insanity as doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results. That holds true for one's faith walk as well. For many of us (me included) it is easy to fall into the trap of doing the same things one has always done in their faith journey and wonder why we are no longer growing in the faith.
I remember reading in a book by Speed Leas a story about a personal experience he had whitewater rafting. The first time he and his family went on this they had a wonderful time so good in fact they decided to repeat the same trip the next year with the same guide. They also invited some of their friends to go along which is the true measure of a positive experience. But what they discovered was their guide told the same stories at the same places on their trip. Instead of being exciting and thrilling as it was the year before it seemed like watching a rerun on television. It just did not have the thrill like it did the year before.
For many of us doing the same thing over and over again expecting to have the same meaningful experience we had the first time ends up in disappointment and frustration. As disciples on the journey we need to continue to go deeper in our faith and experience new ways in which God can touch our life.
I myself am a part of a group which meets on a regular basis where we talk, support, pray and encourage each other. Every time we meet it is a new experience because God breaks through in some way through the people in the group. That group has helped me in more ways than I can count to keep my relationship with God and my ministry fresh and alive.
As a wandering disciple I have discovered many new ways that God meets me on my faith journey.