Growing to Spiritual Maturity

Jesse (November 25th, 2005)

Many times I feel like I'm back-tracking because I've done something wrong or hurt someone without thinking enough about how it would affect that person. I always want God to change me instantly and I think I've expected it too much! From my earlier experiences the deliverance has been so immediate that I guess I learned to expect this with my behavior as well.

For one, we must act on what we know. Practice what we believe, like Rick Warren says: "Impression with expression causes depression. Study without service leads to spiritual stagnation." I try to act on what I know, I fall short a lot and I get discouraged. Im sure a lot of people do, we aren't perfect. Why does it take so long to learn from God?

Well when you study, do you read a verse and instantly memorize it? Probably not, I have to repeat it about 100 times in my head before I can remember it, then another 100 times about what chapter and verse name it belongs to! With repeated exposure to our mistakes we will learn, though that would seem like common sense - but applying to sin with Christ in our lives the conviction of Holy Spirit will ultimately help us correct our ways.

Why is it so hard to grow? We have to unlearn a lot of bad habits we started, take smoking for example. Thats extremely hard to quit. What about any other habits, even to the depths in our outlook in life and thoughts? Unless we humble ourselves and face our faults, we cannot grow. The Bible says the exhaulted will be humbled and the humble will be exhaulted. Many times I say to myself that Im going to learn and be patient and teachable, but I don't really act on it or I switch moods and can be stubborn. Habits don't appear out of the blue, we have to practice slowly and build them up - such as Bible Study and Prayer.

This is one of my favorite passages in The Purpose Driven Life: "There is no growth without change, there is no change without fear or loss; and there is no loss without pain. Every change involves a loss of some kind: You must let go of the old ways to experience the new. We fear these losses, even if our old ways were self-defeating, because, like a worn pair of shoes, they were at least comfortable and familiar."

I guess this is the best advice I've been applying to myself the past few weeks, and maybe you should consider it if you havent already. Which is; I am not perfect I shouldn't rush, when I don't feel God or His presence near I still believe he is working in me, gradual improvement is better than none, and ultimately I'll learn more this way than in instant change.

Habbakuk 2:3 For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end--it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.

There are no shortcuts to spiritual maturity, be patient -- It will surely come! God Bless!