Spiritual growth is an intentional commitment. I truly believe this. In my experience, so many of us are stuck, because we accept Christ and then think that it is over. We stay immature, in a spiritual infancy. We watch others around us and say why not me, why am I always struggling, why don't I have x, y or z. However, we fail to see that out spiritual commitment to growth is weak.
There are many areas in my own life that I have struggled, where I have been unhappy, but remained in that comfortable unhappiness, because at least it was familiar. Things did not change until I made the commitment to growth and change, the commitment to challenge myself, to constantly question myself and bring it to God. The questioning is not the indecisive, superficial questioning, but the deep questions of motive, commitment, true desire and the reality of looking into my own heart. Rick Warren reminds us what we have been wresting with, that the first step to spiritual growth is to change the way you think. The first battlefield is the mind. Paul challenges us to renew our mind, our thoughts and out attitudes (Rom. 12:1-2). The Christian life is more than going to church, singing songs or wearing a christian t-shirt, it's about a lifestyle of love of God and the love of our fellow man.
If you try to make these changes out of your own strength, you will fail. It's like a diet, a diet is a temporary fix to a deeper rooted issue. If you don't make long term changes, then a diet does nothing. It is the same spiritually, you might go to church for a few weeks or read your bible verse for two days or play your christian play list, but if you are not in a relationship with God that will change your lifestyle, it is a fleeting fad.
So what can you do to commit to growth? Rick Warren asks What is one ares where I need to stop thinking my way and start thinking God's way?
For more resources check out www.purposedriven.com/day23
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