Are You Growing In God? 2

Anyone knows that thousands of acres of corn, peas, peanuts, and potatoes don’t just “show up” in the field; somebody has to be intentional about growing them. God is clear that “We are not meant to remain as children.” (Eph 4:14) He wants us to grow up. Growth is not automatic. It takes an intentional commitment. You must want to grow, decide to grow, make an effort to grow and persist in growing. It always starts with a decision.

 Here are four things to consider in your own spiritual growth in God.

You have to be Intentional about your growth. Our family has enjoyed putting puzzles together in our home for years. But they didn’t just “fall into place” in the middle of the night. Somebody in the family sat down and worked on one section at a time. We would always start by building the borders first; then we worked toward the center. God starts the same way. He builds one piece of the “border” at a time. First your salvation; then He fills you with His Holy Spirit. God says, “Add to your faith virtue and to virtue knowledge and to knowledge...”(2 Pet 1:5-7) Read on and you’ll see everything to add. It won’t just happen, you have to make an effort for it to happen.

You have to overcome Distractions to see God’s Development. Each of us faces distractions with life. Your job pulls at you. Stress mounts up in a strained relationship. Your health challenges you. Everywhere you turn, there is adversity, winds and bitter situations. Moses was on a journey to take Israel into the Promised Land, but within three days of coming out of Egypt, they faced a huge hiccup. They were thirsty and came to the bitter waters of Marah. They begin to complain at Moses with cruel statements. “God has brought us out here in the wilderness to kill us because there weren't enough graves in Egypt.” God showed Moses the answer to making the bitter waters sweet. “Cut down the tree and the waters will be made sweet.” (Ex 15:24, 25) The cross, and Christ on Calvary’s tree is our answer to every bitter situation in life.

Never, Never, Never Lose Hope. You may be stuck today in your growth. Just because you are up in years doesn’t mean you’ve grown in God. Have you gotten stuck in a bitter situation with the betrayal of a friend, or a failure in your journey? Maybe you’ve come to a breaking point with an explosion at work, in your marriage or with your kids. God is more concerned about your development than your deliverance, your character than your comfort, and your confidence in Him than your conflict in life. He is more concerned about your believing in Him than the test at your bitter waters. The bitter waters are the only thing that will show us what’s really inside of us.

If you’ll Press beyond Marah, you’ll find Elim. When they pressed beyond Marah, they came to Elim where they found 12 springs of water and seventy date Palm trees. (Ex 15:27KJV) Those who press on will find new fruit they’ve never tasted before and new springs they’ve never drunk from. Interestingly, the dates from those Palm trees have great nutrition with many benefits. Research it and you’ll see. God has an oasis for your growth today if you will make the effort to GET UP and move forward in His love, joy, peace and grace. Decide today that, “The Rest of my life is going to be the BEST part of my life.”