Everything on earth has its own time and its own season.
○ Ecc. 3:1
I am sure that God who began a good work within you will keep right on helping you grow in his grace until his task within you is finally finished on that day when Jesus Christ returns.
○ Phill 1:6
There are NO shortcuts to maturity
○ Spiritual growth like physical growth takes time.
○ While we worry how fast we grow, God's concern is how strong we grow. He views our life from and for eternity so there's no hurry.
○ Our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him - 2 Cor 3:18b
WHY DOES IT TAKE SO LONG?
○ We are slow learners
§ We often have to relearn a lesson 40 or 50 times to really get it. Sometimes we revert to our old ways, which is why we need repeated exposure.
○ We have a lot to unlearn
§ While you were given a brand new nature at the moment of conversion, you still have old habits, patterns, and practices that need to be removed and replaced.
○ We're afraid to humbly face the truth about ourselves
§ You can't grow w/o a humble, teachable attitude
○ Growth is often painful and scary
§ There's no growth w/o change
□ There's no change w/o fear or loss
¨ There's no loss w/o pain
◊ Every change involves a loss of some kind
§ You must let go of old ways in order to experience the new
□ We fear these losses, even if our old ways were self defeating, because like a worn out pair of shoes, they were at least comfortable and familiar
○ Habits take time to develop
§ Your character is the sum total of your habits
□ You must practice Christ like character to develop it.
¨ It takes time! There are no instant habits
◊ Practice these things. Devote your life to them so that everyone can see your progress - 1 Tim 4:15
¨ Repetition is the mother of character and skill. These character building habits are called "spiritual disciplines"
DON'T GET IN A HURRY -How to cooperate with God in the process
§ Believe God is working in your life even when you don't feel it.
□ Everything in earth has its own time and its own season - Ecc 3:1
§ Keep a notebook or journal of lessons learned
□ Not a diary of events, but a record of what you're learning
¨ Insights & life lessons God teaches you about him, yourself, life, relationships, etc
□ Record these so you can review/remember and pass them on to future generations
□ Review your spiritual journal regularly to spare yourself unnecessary pain and heartache
¨ It's crucial that we keep a firm grip on what we've heard so that we don't drift off - Heb 2:1
§ Be patient with God and yourself
□ Great souls are grown through struggles and storms and seasons of suffering
¨ Don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed - James 1:4
§ Don't get discouraged
□ These things I plan won't happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, don't despair, for these things will surely come to pass. Just be patient! They will not be overdue a single day! - Habakkuk 2:3
□ A delay is not a denial from God
REMEMBER HOW FAR YOU'VE COME AND NOT JUST HOW FAR YOU HAVE TO GO. YOU'RE NOT WHERE YOU WANT TO BE BUT NEITHER ARE YOU WHERE YOU USED TO BE.
Day 28
P2P: There are no shortcuts to maturity
V2R: God began doing a good work in you, and I am sure he will continue it until it is finished when Jesus Christ comes again. - Philippians 1:6
Q2C: In what area of my spiritual growth do I need to be more patient and persistent?
Image from www.deviantart.com "Expression of maturity" by elifercan
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