FInding maturity in any form is a tough route. In life we mature through constant growth, in sports athletes mature in the form of thousands of hours of practice and games, and in the spiritual sense we all grow through constant work and faithfulness to that work. You see we cannot grow into the mature Christians that we read about in the BIble, and we see in our local churches until we do the little things that spur us on to growth. Our growth is stunted or slowed by only one thing, pride. Every time we deny God and grab on to our fleshly wants we take a major step backwards spiritually.
Alexa is playing softball and basketball. We try to do something each day with it whether it is just taking about 75 swings, or throwing for about 20-30 minutes or shooting free throws and dribbling around the driveway. I am working hard to engrave in her mind that every day she doesn't get better is a step in the wrong direction. She is awesome about it, yesterday she was tired after school but she knows that Wednesday afternoon before girls' practice is often the only time we have to work at softball without any distractions. SO we pitched for a while, and she did good and told me she was tired and didn't really want to do it, but afterward she felt good about herself doing it when she didn't feel motivated to.
THese are the same things we fight off as Christians. Sometimes early in the morning we don't feel much like reading our Bibles, or a lunch time or at night. SOmetimes we just don't feel like going to a Bible study or church but we go and we do it by denying ourselves. That is where growth begins, by us denying ourselves and thinking of what God wants from us and for us during that time.
1 Corinthians 3:2 "I gave you milk, not solid food for you were not ready for it"
We cannot make the move from milk to solid food until we start denying ourselves and seeking God!
Amy Carmichael once penned these thoughts; Sometimes when we read the words of those who have been more than conquerors, we feel almost despondent. I feel that I shall never be like that. But they won through step by step little bits of wills, little denials of self, little inward victories won by faithfulness in little things. THey became what they are. No one sees these little hidden steps. THey only see the accomplishment, but even so, those small steps were taken. There is no sudden triumph no spiritual maturity, that is the work of the moment.
So if you are wanting to be more spiritually mature, to grow closer to God, take the first step by denying yourself and multiplying God's influences in your life.
Thanks for reading and have a great day!
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