Growing spiritual is a process. A process where you make the final decision and you have absolutely control over the process. How much or how little you grow spiritually is all in your hands. In life, anything worth having, is worth working for; our spiritual life is no different. In my first article, Spiritually Growing, Part I, I briefly wrote about the practical steps in growing spiritual. These steps included, first making the decision to be born-again in Christ; which is a pre-requisite for being a Christian, reading your bible, becoming a doer of the word of God, church attendance, and so forth.
Growing Spiritual is ultimately being one with God, meaning you agree with God’s word, without compromising and without doubt. The word of God is where the growing process will begin, 2 Timothy 3:16-17,” All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” As you apply the word to your life, you will start to see some changes in your thinking and behavior. Galatians 5:22-23, says : “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law”, these are some changes you will see in your life. The more time you make to read your bible, the more you will grow and have an understanding of God’s purpose. God wants us to have His likeness, His character, 1 Corinthians 11:1. We are not spiritual growing when our character is complete opposite of God. When our character, thinking and actions are similar to God, we are spiritual growing.
Moreover, the word will help you stop sinning. However, this will only happen when you begin to apply the word of God to your life. James 1:22, we must be doers of the word, lest we deceive ourselves. There are many people who “appear” spiritual, but spend some time with them and you might see exactly what they are made of. That is why Romans 12:2, is a constant reminder of our spiritual growth and process, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will.”. We have to constantly renew our minds to the things of God, so we can grow spiritual. We don’t automatically start to do the things God wants us to do. We don’t just stop sinning, because we are born-again. We have to take time and apply the word concerning the area in our life, where we struggle with. For example, let say you are struggling with an addiction, the first thing you will need to do is find out what the bible say concerning addictions, take these scriptures like, Galatians 5:24; Psalm 51: 2-4; Romans 13:14; Romans 6:6, etc mediate on them, believe them, receive it in your life and begin to live the word. Romans 13:14, says, “Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desire of the sinful nature”. How do you do that? You have to believe that you can, speak the word over your life and mentally, train yourself to move away from the addiction. For example, every time a thought comes up to smoke a cigarette, remind yourself of this scripture. That will help you to stop and think. It won’t be easy and sometimes you will fall back, but you always have an opportunity to move forward, until you reach a place where a cigarette, can’t control your life. That is a part of growing spiritually, knowing when to turn to God for help and not relying on ourselves or others for help.
We must be at a place where we believe God and trust the Holy Spirit to guide us at all times. Growing spiritually is not going to be an overnight process, it takes years and it’s actually a never ending process. Due to our human nature, we are in a constant struggle with our Spirit and our flesh, Galatians 5:17 . However, praise God we can reach perfection through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We must always work to pursue the spiritual things. We must have a desire to draw closer to God and want to see positive changes in our lives. Our physical life will be a reflection of our spiritual life. For instance, have you ever been around people who are hot-headed, always worrying, and on the other end you have someone who is usually calm and peaceful? The two difference in attitudes and behavior, is a reflection of what is really going on inside spiritually. As Smith Wigglesworth said” When a man is filled with the Holy Spirit, he has a vital power that makes people know he has seen God. He ought to be in such a place spiritually that when he goes into a neighbor’s house or out among people, they will feel that God has come into their midst.” This is one of my favorite quotes. It reinforces how important growing spiritual is in our lives; just our presence can change how others see God. Are you spiritually growing?
Scriptures to Meditate On:
1 Peter 2:2-3 “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.”
Philippians 3:13 “Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,”
Matthew 4:4 “Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
2 Peter 3:18 “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.”
Ephesians 1: 17-18 “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people,”
1 Corinthians 13:11 “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.”