Keep Growing

KEEP GROWING

"And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him." Luke 2:40.

The Lord Jesus is our role model. Notice the four areas in which He grew:

1. Intellectually (wisdom)

2. Physically (stature)

3. Spiritually (favour with God)

4. Socially (favour with others)

Jesus lived an exemplary life of intellectual, physical, social and spiritual growth. His desires is for us to mature and grow up in the same grace. To grow up is to develop gradually. It is becoming mature.

"14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—" Ephesians 4:14-15.

Babies are not mature when they are born, but we expect them to develop as they keep growing. Just as a baby needs to do certain things to grow, so we also need to do certain things to grow into spiritual adulthood. 2 Peter 3:18. Growth starts with little steps. It requires commitment. Are you ready to commit to growth daily. Apostle Paul encouraged Timothy to be committed to growth and study. "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." 2 Timothy 2:15.

SPIRITUAL BIRTH:

"Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3.

Spiritual birth must first take place before any spiritual growth can take place. Jesus describes spiritual birth as being born again. Salvation leads to a genuine love for God. It produces a longing to obey His word and follow in His footsteps. Only after spiritual birth can someone grow and reproduce in Christ.

LEAVE SIN BEHING:

In order to grow well physically we need good hygiene.

We’re not meant to continue in sin after receiving God’s grace of salvation. This doesn’t mean we never sin, but when we do we repent and turn back to following Jesus. We're not to live lives drenched in persistent sin. Practise self-control. Keep trying again and again after apparent fall or failures. Don't be discouraged.

KNOW AND DEVELOP A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD:

"that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death," Philippians 3:10.

Knowing God begins with a relationship. Relationship is intimacy. To know God is to spend time in His presence. It is to have an understanding of who He is. To know God is to draw nearer and closer to Him. It is to walk upright! So, deepen your relationship. Pursue a closer walk with God. Give attention to the Holy Spirit. Remove all distractions. Schedule a daily appointment with God . Even when you fall, rise and keep walking.

FAITH:

To grow and mature in our walk with the Lord we must have a total and unconditional faith. We do this by removing conditions from our faith walk. God knows the best way to handle our situations. Hence we must not doubt His plans! Work on increasing your faith daily. God knows all and He has a perfect plan. Romans 10:17.

READ AND MEDITATE ON THE WORD DAILY:

In order to grow physically we need to eat. The human body cannot survive or grow without food and water.

We cannot grow spiritually unless we receive God’s Word. The Bible is essential for our spiritual growth. Make it a habit to read and study the Bible in a daily, disciplined way. Highlight verses that speak to you. Meditate on the Scriptures. Memorize some passages so you can recall them from memory at a future time.

CONSISTENCY IN PRAYER:

In order to grow physically we need to breathe.

You cannot grow spiritually without developing consistency in prayer. Prayer is talking to God. You can pray with your eyes closed or open, while sitting or standing, kneeling or lying on your bed, anywhere and anytime. So begin to make prayer a part of your daily routine. Try using the acronym ACTS (Adoration; Confession; Thanksgiving; Supplication). Commit to to both personal and corporate prayer. Pray for others in need. Pray for direction. Take every matter, even the small ones, to God. Let your fear and worry triggers calls for prayer.

FAST OFTEN:

Fasting is a spiritual discipline. It leads to greater intimacy with God. We gain wisdom and guidance through fasting. Fasting rekindles our spiritual flame! It is an excellent way to clearly hear from God. Prepare your body for the fast. Seek medical advice, especially if you have any existing medical concerns. Eat light a few days prior to the fast. Determine the length. Have a clear target. Take time to pray and read the Bible. Prepare for opposition. Press through. Break your fast gradually. Make a decision to take your fasting life to a deeper level.