Therefore, my friends, since you have been warned, be on your guard so that you are not swept away by the folly of the wicked and fall from your secure place. Rather increase your spiritual maturity and understanding of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Glory be to him now and forever! Amen.” — 2 Peter 3:17-18 (NIV)
Perhaps you have ever attempted to maintain a vegetable garden, you probably observed the amount of effort and time required to support the growth of the vegetable. Nevertheless, as the vegetable grows and blossoms, all of the effort put into caring for it is appreciated.
2 Peter 3 tells us to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” This has nothing to do with the kind of physical growth that plants exhibit. Rather, this article is about spiritual growth and how to become closer to God.
What Exactly Is Spiritual Growth?
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I give thanks to God, every time I think of you, I always pray joyfully for all of you because of your involvement in the gospel from the first day until now. I am convinced that whoever started a good work in you will see it through to completion until the day of Christ Jesus— Philippians 1:3-6 (NIV)
What is the meaning of Spiritual growth?
“What do i meant with spiritual growth?” Perhaps you might be asking yourself. Spiritual growth entails learning.
Leaning about God and knowing more about him are key components of spiritual growth. When we convert to Christianity, we all start somewhere. Some of us may be more accustomed to God’s message at the beginning of our journeys, while others may be entirely unfamiliar with the idea of salvation.
Our behaviors can be a reflection of our spiritual growth. This raises the question:
Where and how do we learn more about God and His word? Are we living less for ourselves and more for God?
Since the beginning of our deep connection with Jesus Christ, have our attitudes and behaviors toward God and other people changed or stayed the same?
Growing Spiritually
Taking your first step on your spiritual growth
” and Jesus said unto him. “If you believe, anything is possible.” The boy’s father said, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” — Mark 9:23–24, NIV
How, therefore, do a believer grow towards attaining spiritual maturity? The Book of Mark 9:23, gives an account of how a certain man approached Jesus and begged him to save his kid from an unclean spirit. The boy’s father requests that Jesus do everything in his power. “Everything is possible for one who believes,” Jesus replies. In response, the man asks for assistance in getting over his lack of faith.
Like the man in Mark 9:23-24, we might begin our spiritual development by approaching Jesus for help. He will respect our request and the efforts we make to get to know him better.
Benefits of spiritual growth
With this few benefits of spiritual growth, I’m confident you’ll be more inclined to make an investment towards your own spiritual growth journey.
- Growing spiritually strengthens your connection with God.
Developing an intimate connection with God is the first and most significant advantage of spiritual growth. We all recognize God as a friend and a beloved father. But becoming His best friend requires us attaining some spiritual growth and maturity, that will result to building special relationship with him that no one else is able to comprehend. It’s a unique connect just for you. Many opportunities to understand God’s thoughts, participate in God’s promises, communicate with God more quickly, etc., are made possible by this deep connection, it will appear as though, God live inside of us, which he truly is.
2. Spiritual Growth gets you ready for his services.
Serving is a calling for Christians. Our model is Christ, will always be Christ. A Christian needs to demonstrate spiritual maturity in order to advance to this stage of growth. A ministry is not something you gives to a “baby.” Before God can entrust you with his work, he wants to know how far you’ve come. You must make a commitment to grow spiritually if you want God to use you for his work.
3. Your life is changed through spiritual growth.
I should also mention that spiritual growth has a positive impact on your physical life in addition to the rewards in heaven. Your marriage, work, health, finances, character, etc. will all change as you grow in Christ. Things start to proceed in the right direction for you the moment you made that commitment.
4. Growing spiritually strengthens your Immunity against sin.
The greatest adversary of a believer is sin. A lot of believers aspire to live for God. Their goal is to carry out the responsibilities that God has given them. They secretly desire a closer relationship with God, yet sin continually stands in their ways. They can be fervently devoted to Christ today, few days later they revert to sin. Unless you begin making investments in your own spiritual growth, it is an ongoing battle. A mature person knows how to withstand the storm, while a child will simply follow his whims. Your ability to withstand sin whenever it rears its ugly head is a result of your spiritual growth and maturity.
5. Spiritual growth increases your appreciation for the good works of God
You know you have ceased growing if you ever feel uncertain about the things of God. Being uncertain on the things of God is unacceptable for someone who is spiritually mature. Spiritual growth doesn’t makes room for uncertainty or anxiety, rather it gives you self-assurance, tranquility, love and an unwavering devotion for God. Without hesitation, you love all that God loves. You obey God’s instruction to love your neighbors. Fear and uncertainty are absent the moment you give your self to spiritual growth.
Conclusion
In order to experience these benefits and more, I hope you will one day reach out to us and join any of our spiritual coaching sessions.
Ways to grow spiritually
We can encourage spiritual growth in the following ways:
- Through connection with other believers in the faith.
- Deep study and meditation on the word of God
- Developing a consistent prayer life
- Loving others. Jesus Commanded us to show the same love, we shown ourselves to our neighbors Mark 12:31.
- Adhering to God’s Word and his commandments.
Are you looking for a way to grow spiritually, do you want to stay more connected with God so you can understand his purpose concerning your life? All Souls Matter offer free spiritual Growth Consultation services. Book a free consultation session with us today!!
