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Q: My faith today is probably about where it was 10 years ago -- not much stronger, not much weaker. I know I ought to be a better Christian, but I don't know how. What would you say to me? -- Mrs. L.W.

A: Just as children are meant to grow and become adults, so we are meant to grow and become "spiritual adults". Only then will we be able to resist wrong and do what's right. The Bible says, "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18).

The key is to understand that when we come to Christ and commit our lives to Him, we now have a personal relationship with God. Think of it: God is now our Heavenly Father, and we are now His children! More than that, He has come to live within us by His Holy Spirit. God loves us, and by His death and resurrection Christ has torn down the barrier between us -- a barrier caused by our sin. Now we are part of His family!

But how does any personal relationship grow and become stronger? The answer is clear: we have to spend time with someone -- listening to them, sharing our interests and concerns with them, learning about them, and so forth. And the same is true with God. One way we do this is by listening to Him as He speaks to us through His Word, the Bible. He also has given us the privilege of talking to Him in prayer. We grow stronger too through our fellowship with other believers.

Make sure of your commitment to Christ. Then set aside time each day to read God's Word and pray. God's promise is true: "Come near to God and he will come near to you" (James 4:8).

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(Send your queries to "My Answer," c/o Billy Graham, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, 1 Billy Graham Parkway, Charlotte, N.C., 28201; call 1-(877) 2-GRAHAM, or visit the Web site for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association: www.billygraham.org.)

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