Spiritual Growth

On the subject of my relationship with God, I would hope for it to be said of me that I'm growing, of course. I want to be developing and maturing as a Christ-follower. There have been lots of changes taking place in my life these last several months, and I am experiencing new things, and reflecting a ton. I feel as if I am beginning to change as an individual, too. Slowly but surely, I am noticing a difference in the way that I think, speak, and feel.

But above all, my heart's deepest desire is still for God.

I long for more of Him every day. I want to see and hear Him all around me. I long to be filled with a greater hunger for God's Word and increasing thirst for his presence.

Having said all of that, however, I will also include in here a brief mention of how these are things that are true of most Christians. Who doesn't want those these things? I have been making these same claims and praying the same prayers for years and years. But lately, for some reason (or many reasons), I've been feeling incredibly unsatisfied with my spiritual growth. I just feel so sluggish and stagnant and slow and.. grey. Right now, I can say confidently that I love Jesus! But I'm wanting that spark-- that raging flame within me. The passionate, burning desperation embedded deep within my heart to experience more of God's holy and awesome power. I'm just feeling kind of a little bit comfortable.

Abba Father, this is the cry of my heart. Just come and meet with me. I want a new touch, a powerful encounter with you! I am hereby requesting a private audience with you. Take me by the shoulders and shake me awake.

I am trying to be disciplined and diligent in striving for greater, and continuous spiritual growth; I'm not ready to give up yet. I'm sure that there are countless ways to gague whether or not I am "growing" but so as to take steps toward achieving self-accountability, I've come up with 3 questions to ask myself to help me focus on how to tangibly grow.

1. Am I growing in my knowledge of Christ?
2. Am I growing in my intimacy with Christ?
3. Am I growing in my likeness of Christ?

I spent the larger part of this past school year reading through the Old Testament, and it has been really very rewarding. Honest! I love the New Testament because it teaches me about how to live my life today, but wow. The O.T. has taught me more about God's character and about his heart than I ever knew before. I'm so thankful to God for revealing himself to me through his Word, but I want more!

I think that my intimacy with Christ is the easiest of the three to gague. It is pretty much reflected directly in my personal prayer life, my consistency (and desire?) in reading the Word, and in my actions and words and attitude.

Likeness of Christ. What a feat, eh? I want to become more and more like Christ. I want to bear the fruits of the Spirit as he dwells within me. May I speak and act out of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (*Galatians 5: 22-23)

Hoo boy. Spiritual growth, I am coming.

Step by step.

- bcl.