Do You Wonder If You're Growing Spiritually?
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Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash
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Some kids don’t want to grow up, but when I was a kid, I wanted to grow up as quickly as possible. I loved celebrating birthdays and starting new grades—undeniable signs that I was moving closer to the freedom of adulthood.
Though I’m a full-fledged adult now, I still long to grow up. Only instead of pining for physical independence, I’m longing for spiritual maturity. I yearn to experience more of God’s presence, to better understand His love and wisdom, and to touch more lives through my ministry. And sometimes, just as when I was a kid, I want to hurry the process.
But just as it takes time for kids to develop physically, mentally, and emotionally, so it takes time for us to develop spiritually. The good news is, if we’re faithful to provide the necessary ingredients for growth—things like feeding ourselves a steady diet of God's Word, soaking in His loving presence, and acting on what He's called us to do—we will, in time, grow.
As we pursue spiritual growth, here are two things to keep in mind:
1) While we can nurture growth, we ourselves don’t make it happen—God does. In 1 Corinthians 3:6, Paul wrote: “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow” (NIV).
2) We likely won’t notice our growth on a day-to-day basis. My elementary-age nephews are steadily growing, but I only perceive their growth over a passage of time. They appear the same to me this week as they did last week. But when I think about how big they were two years ago, I notice a huge difference.
As you're faithful to abide in Jesus, you can trust that you are growing, even if you can’t perceive it. If you’re wondering if you are actually growing and are looking for some indicator of progress, think back to where you were spiritually a few years ago and compare it to where you are now. You might be surprised at how far you’ve come!
In purpose and faith,
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