Do you really want to grow (Article from February 2011)

Do you really want to grow?

Do you want to grow spiritually?  Stupid question, right?  No—it is a serious question that desperately needs a thoughtful answer from each of us.  Time and time again, Jesus asked those who came to him, “What do you want from me?”  Jesus wanted people to put into words what they wanted from him.  He wants us to do the same.  Once you have spent some time thinking and praying about what you want your life to look like, tell God!  Try writing it down as a letter to God—he’s been hoping to hear from you.

So what is spiritual growth?

We use this phrase all the time without thinking about what spiritual growth actually looks like.  But consider the tree illustration Pastor Rich used a few weeks ago—you cannot bear fruit without first growing deep roots.  We grow our roots by working with the Holy Spirit to draw closer to God—the number best way do this by getting to know him through his word.  There really is no “Plan B”! 

Are you ready to grow?

If you want to run a marathon, you can’t just show up and run.  You have to train (1 Cor. 9:25).  For followers of Jesus, training comes in the form of something called spiritual disciplines (or “spiritual practices” or “soul training exercises”).  There isn’t a single complete list of disciplines, but we are specifically commanded to practice some.  One of these is reading scripture regularly.  Jesus taught that in order to grow close to God, we must learn his commands and obey them (John 14:21).  And the best way to learn them, is to read them with intention.

Are you ready to take the 5-Minute Challenge?

This month, I challenge each of you to give God five minutes of your time—just five minutes.  Come on, can anyone think of a good excuse for not giving God five minutes out of their busy schedule?  So I challenge you to spend just five minutes a day reading the Bible.  Sounds easy enough, but here’s the catch—you must schedule that five minutes into your day, and stick to it.  The purpose is to get into a habit of intentionally cracking open God’s word every day at a regular time of your choosing.  You can do this!  You brush your teeth every day, don’t you?  If you already are in the habit of reading scripture every day, then I encourage you to set your own small goal.  Perhaps spend five additional minutes at a different time in your day, or practice memorizing scripture for five minutes.

Why just 5 minutes?

If you are serious about wanting to grow in your faith, this is a vital step.  Unfortunately, when we make a resolution or set a goal for ourselves, we often set ourselves up for failure.  When you start training, you have to able to run around the block before you try 12 miles!  If you’re not sure where to begin, I suggest the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) which tell about the life and teachings of Jesus.  They can (and should) be read again and again. 

Your church can’t do it for you!

It’s easy to blame the church or the pastors when we feel stalled in our spiritual journeys.  But the truth is that your spiritual growth depends on the Holy Spirit and you!  SCBFC is here to encourage you, support you, and cheer you on, but the race is yours to run (Heb.12:1-3).