Growth - the process of developing or maturing physically, mentally, or spiritually.
Isn't this what we are all doing on some level? Our bodies naturally grow and mature (despite some protesting). Our minds grow each day, taking in new information in mass quantity, usually by default and sometimes by choice and effort.
However, the same is not true for spiritual growth. Spiritual growth takes effort. It takes us committing ourselves to praying, studying, training, and hiding God's Word in our hearts.
Psalm 119:11 says, "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you."
One of the greatest joys in growing in your relationship with the Lord is hearing Him speak to you. Sometimes that comes through a series of verses you see. Sometimes through the prayers of others. Sometimes through a sermon. Sometimes through the loving acts of others. But, my personal favorite is when you hear God whisper into your heart and soul. When you know there is no other explanation for what you are hearing.
Our daughter has been experiencing this kind of growth.She came to me about 2 months ago on her own and said in a gentle voice, "Mom, I'm ready to get baptized." My first response was to ask her if she knew what that meant to be baptized. She quickly responded with a very accurate answer. I told her I would talk with our pastor about getting her baptized.
In the meantime, as I was spending time daily with my Lord and Savior, He began whispering into my heart about my daughter. I was reading a book and through that book, God began telling me to take my daughter into a quiet place in our house and talk with her about her own salvation.
I invited her into our room. We sat on the bed and I shared some scripture with her, then I asked her if she knew what salvation meant? When she responded that she didn't know what that word meant, I explained it to her, then I asked her if she wanted to make that commitment. With a smile on her face, she said yes.
I held her in my lap. I asked her to repeat after me. I led her in prayer, confessing her sins, acknowledging Jesus, and accepting Him into her heart. We were both crying. After God had me lead her, I felt led to just to pray aloud. Another one of our children was in the room too, so the three of us sat on my bed, crying and praying.
As a parent, there is no greater joy and moment in life that will compare with that - knowing you have led your child to the Lord and that they wanted it. Imagine how God feels when His children come to Him. Imagine the joy He feels and the rejoicing that goes on in Heaven when one of His children asks Him into their heart and to cleanse them.
After we were done, we went downstairs and she was beaming. Literally, beaming with joy! Our eldest daughter asked her why she was so happy and as our daughter tried to explain what had happened, she couldn't say it without crying tears of joy. My husband came out to the kitchen a few minutes later and I asked him to ask her what had just happened. She began telling him, and again, she began to cry. It was so real. So tangible - the love for God and her enthusiasm for the change that had just happened in her life.
Following dinner, we sat down and had our family devotional. We went through several scriptures talking about salvation, baptism, and confessing our sins. As we read through some of the scriptures, in particular, Romans 10:9, our daughter would smile really big and say, "Hey, that's what I did tonight!"
In my head and heart, all I could say was, "Yes, my love, that is what you did tonight!"
My heart beamed with pride and joy. It beamed with a love so real - for God... and for my family. As my friend said to me, the angels rejoiced last night!! Indeed they did!
No matter what your age, growth happens. Physical, mental, and spiritual, if you allow and foster it. God began speaking to her little heart and she heard Him and she obeyed Him. Friends, there is no greater joy than being in the presence and obedience of the Heavenly Father.
My husband's mentor, Bob, once shared a beautiful mental picture with us. He shared with us that everyone is on a journey and on that journey your arrow is either pointing forward or backward. He challenged us with the idea of always being aware of which direction our arrow was pointing. It doesn't really matter where you are on that line, but it matters which direction you are moving - forward, toward God, or backward, away from God.
I--------------<---------------->--------------->--------<-------------->-----------I
Each one of those arrows represents a different person. We are ALL on the same journey - LIFE. We are all here on earth and in the end, we will all die an earthly death. The journey is the same - birth through death, but the roads are not the same.
Which road will you take? Which direction are you pointed? Toward God or away from God? Are you growing in your walk with God and allowing the Holy Spirit to speak to you, to intervene in your life, and to move you in a new direction - back on the correct road for your life?
The angels rejoice!
Isn't this what we are all doing on some level? Our bodies naturally grow and mature (despite some protesting). Our minds grow each day, taking in new information in mass quantity, usually by default and sometimes by choice and effort.
However, the same is not true for spiritual growth. Spiritual growth takes effort. It takes us committing ourselves to praying, studying, training, and hiding God's Word in our hearts.
Psalm 119:11 says, "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you."
One of the greatest joys in growing in your relationship with the Lord is hearing Him speak to you. Sometimes that comes through a series of verses you see. Sometimes through the prayers of others. Sometimes through a sermon. Sometimes through the loving acts of others. But, my personal favorite is when you hear God whisper into your heart and soul. When you know there is no other explanation for what you are hearing.
Our daughter has been experiencing this kind of growth.She came to me about 2 months ago on her own and said in a gentle voice, "Mom, I'm ready to get baptized." My first response was to ask her if she knew what that meant to be baptized. She quickly responded with a very accurate answer. I told her I would talk with our pastor about getting her baptized.
In the meantime, as I was spending time daily with my Lord and Savior, He began whispering into my heart about my daughter. I was reading a book and through that book, God began telling me to take my daughter into a quiet place in our house and talk with her about her own salvation.
I invited her into our room. We sat on the bed and I shared some scripture with her, then I asked her if she knew what salvation meant? When she responded that she didn't know what that word meant, I explained it to her, then I asked her if she wanted to make that commitment. With a smile on her face, she said yes.
I held her in my lap. I asked her to repeat after me. I led her in prayer, confessing her sins, acknowledging Jesus, and accepting Him into her heart. We were both crying. After God had me lead her, I felt led to just to pray aloud. Another one of our children was in the room too, so the three of us sat on my bed, crying and praying.
As a parent, there is no greater joy and moment in life that will compare with that - knowing you have led your child to the Lord and that they wanted it. Imagine how God feels when His children come to Him. Imagine the joy He feels and the rejoicing that goes on in Heaven when one of His children asks Him into their heart and to cleanse them.
After we were done, we went downstairs and she was beaming. Literally, beaming with joy! Our eldest daughter asked her why she was so happy and as our daughter tried to explain what had happened, she couldn't say it without crying tears of joy. My husband came out to the kitchen a few minutes later and I asked him to ask her what had just happened. She began telling him, and again, she began to cry. It was so real. So tangible - the love for God and her enthusiasm for the change that had just happened in her life.
Following dinner, we sat down and had our family devotional. We went through several scriptures talking about salvation, baptism, and confessing our sins. As we read through some of the scriptures, in particular, Romans 10:9, our daughter would smile really big and say, "Hey, that's what I did tonight!"
In my head and heart, all I could say was, "Yes, my love, that is what you did tonight!"
My heart beamed with pride and joy. It beamed with a love so real - for God... and for my family. As my friend said to me, the angels rejoiced last night!! Indeed they did!
No matter what your age, growth happens. Physical, mental, and spiritual, if you allow and foster it. God began speaking to her little heart and she heard Him and she obeyed Him. Friends, there is no greater joy than being in the presence and obedience of the Heavenly Father.
My husband's mentor, Bob, once shared a beautiful mental picture with us. He shared with us that everyone is on a journey and on that journey your arrow is either pointing forward or backward. He challenged us with the idea of always being aware of which direction our arrow was pointing. It doesn't really matter where you are on that line, but it matters which direction you are moving - forward, toward God, or backward, away from God.
I--------------<---------------->--------------->--------<-------------->-----------I
Each one of those arrows represents a different person. We are ALL on the same journey - LIFE. We are all here on earth and in the end, we will all die an earthly death. The journey is the same - birth through death, but the roads are not the same.
Which road will you take? Which direction are you pointed? Toward God or away from God? Are you growing in your walk with God and allowing the Holy Spirit to speak to you, to intervene in your life, and to move you in a new direction - back on the correct road for your life?
The angels rejoice!
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