Day 1: Measure Your Spiritual Growth

God is causing you to grow spiritually. Here’s how to measure your spiritual growth in an intentional way as you pay attention to incremental changes. From the 40 Days of Daily Bread Series.

Would you like to measure your spiritual growth?

Why does it seem like our goals can fade so quickly? We desire immediate answers to prayer, positive change now, and an enormous increase in success today. We all want to see the fruit of our resolve arrive and stay in place permanently. The problem is found in the waiting. The thing is, the key is found in the waiting, too.

I’m used to going in the kitchen and grabbing a piece of fruit if I want one, or making a quick trip to the store if I’m out. But that piece of fruit took a long time in growing. Someone had to prepare the ground, plant a seed, water it, keep it in proper conditions, and keep it from harm. I don’t know about you, but I usually don’t think about that long process while I’m eating my piece of fruit.

When we look at the way God does things, it’s not always an instant change. Even miracles that happen suddenly sometimes have taken a long time of standing in faith. If a woman is going to have a baby, then there is nine months of waiting.

In the same way, when you want to see a major change take place in your life, be willing to celebrate the small incremental improvements.

Your Spiritual Growth

What about applying that to your spiritual growth? God wants to bring you into a greater spiritual maturity and give you more understanding about His ways. That’s going to turn some frustrations into water off a duck’s back. Doesn’t that sound good?

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 3:18 NASB

I’m not a cold-turkey kind of person. I used to get so frustrated with myself and then depressed when a short time later my resolutions had evaporated as fast as the morning dew. Eventually I learned that it’s okay to not see change come about in the way I had dreamed of it in my perfect little world. It’s the same with gaining understanding of God’s ways. It might not turn out how we think it will. It will be better!

Be encouraged; God is causing you to grow. You can “measure” your spiritual growth this season. (Or at any time you choose to be intentional about it!)

Obedience is another very important key. This 40-day series is a collection of how I learned to live yielded to God and saw the fruit of spiritual growth in my life. I put this together to encourage and inspire you in the journey.

Here’s what we’re going to do. We are going to call this Day 1, and “mark it” by going through the details below. This is how you will measure your spiritual growth. Then at the end of our 40 days, we will be amazed at what God has done!

Apply the Word

This section is to help us respond to the prompting of the Holy Spirit.

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” James 1:22 ESV

• Your Special Verse/Passage

Ask God to give you a verse or passage that is for you for this season. If your 40 Days are for something specific, ask God for verses that will propel you forward during this time. Write them in your journal.

• Pen Your Wishes

Write down one or two things that you would like to see change or growth. The categories could be spiritual, family, health, friendships, ministry or any area God is showing you. If your 40 Days are for a specific purpose, write it down.

• Pray

Pray the verse(s) over yourself. Submit your wishes to God while determining to believe Him for working a big change in your life.

What verse(s) did God give you (or what did you pick)? In what area would you like to see growth?

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