The Dynamics Of Spiritual Growth

The Christian life is one of transformation.  It is not a static life of standing still and doing nothing.  It is a life of constant change.  Many Christians fail to respond to spiritual growth for two primary reasons:  (1) They lack the motivation, (2) they don’t know how.  Our motivation for spiritual growth and knowing “how it happens” has everything to do with our “relationship” with God.  If our relationship with the Lord is lacking, then our spiritual growth will also be lacking.  I want to share with you two keys to help initiate spiritual growth in your life and then offer some practical ways we can ensure we are growing spiritually.

Two attitudes have to be present in order for spiritual growth to occur.  The first is you have to have a “desire” to grow.  If you approach growing spiritually as something that you can’t do, or don’t want to do, then you can be certain spiritual growth will not happen.  As you desire to grow, God will use every opportunity available to change you.  Once you have a desire to grow, then you must “allow for the change” to happen, which is the second attitude you must have.  When you are open to God working in your life, that’s when you will see the greatest spiritual growth and change.

Let me share with you four practical dynamics of spiritual growth:

1.      Maintain a proper attitude towards change.  That means you welcome godly changes in your life and you reject those changes that draw you away from God.

2.      Recognize the symptoms that represent a need for change. These would include feelings of “dissatisfaction,” “uselessness,” “a lacking” in your life, or feeling like you are “out of date” with the move of God.  When these feelings are present, it may be God’s way of alerting you to a need for change.

3.      Seek to walk in the Spirit.  This includes seeking to know God more and more.  Striving for a deeper relationship with Him through prayer, Bible study, and spiritual conversation with other mature Christians.

4.      Understand how habits and life patterns work.  Recognize the habits that are beneficial to spiritual growth and those which are detrimental to your growth.  Practice the habits that help spiritual growth and release those that don’t.

Spiritual change will not take place automatically; it must be desired and allowed in your life.  Plan today to start growing spiritually.  Don’t just rely on “accidental” growth; make it intentional.  What will you do this week that will help you to grow spiritually?