You really never know what life will bring. As an oft said saying goes, “the tallest and mightiest oak of the forest began life as a small nut that stood its ground.” Look around you and observe or realize where you are planted.
Grow from there.
Here’s seven posts I’ve curated to help us gain perspective of why it’s personal growth is necessary, how you can apply that wisdom and what it means.
7 Posts on Spiritual Personal Growth
What God Can Do with the Small and Unlikely (Jennifer Rothschild – Living Beyond Limits): Rothschild uses Zechariah 4:10 to remind us that we should embrace the small things that God gives. “Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin.” (NLT). Nothing is too small in God’s eyes and he can use the most minuscule of things for bigger purposes. As she says,
God Takes The Small And Unlikely To Create Big, Beautiful Results? (Doug Fields at Church Leaders): I can only imagine the frustration that youth leaders face while wondering if anything you say or do is getting through. As Fields says, “…don’t underestimate the little actions that make a BIG difference (the focused time of listening and looking in their eyes, remembering their name, a gracious smile and hug when they walk in the room, noticing a haircut/braces/subtle changes, affirming words, acts of service, etc.).” This is a great post to help keep that in focus.
5 Ways To Be Faithful With The Small Things (Chris Patton at Christian Faith at Work): Patton’s efforts seek to help people leverage business for eternal returns. This post is a great reminder that, at any point, whether it’s New Year’s or not, we can get in shape with the small things in life. He shares how to do that with Spiritual Disciplines, Giving, Treatment of Employees, Application of Wisdom, and Use of Talents.
Here’s seven posts I’ve curated to help us gain perspective of why it’s personal growth is necessary, how you can apply that wisdom and what it means.
The Opportunities Of Life And Time, And Why We Don’t Pursue Them (J. Randal Matheny at Forthright Magazine): The opening line says it all: “If God has still allowed me time on this earth, it is because he still has something for me to do.” As we pursue life, we receive a blessed opportunity to learn, serve, and teach. In so doing, we mature, grow and grow closer to God. Let’s not reject any of those opportunities we’re so graciously provided.
GZS 025: 10 Ways to Stop Missing Opportunities From God (Paul Johnson at The God Zone Show): This podcast is dedicated to opportunities. Throughout, Paul and his guest observe that the book of Esther is filled with descriptions about how God delivers opportunity in the lives of his people. Some of those attributes include; stop being afraid of God’s opportunities, purposefully seek to identify God inspired opportunities, don’t let life’s distractions blind you to God’s opportunities, and realizing how sowing, cultivating, growing all reside within the opportunities God offers you among others.
Faith: Taking a Leap (Pastor Mark Novales at CityReach Network): Drawing on Hebrews 11:6, Novales shows how our acting in faith is pleasing to God. I’ve been presented with a phrase that goes suggests faith is taking steps before understanding, not understanding and then taking steps. In other words, we’ll sometimes have to walk in ambiguity. Why? As the pastor says; “God’s vision for you is much greater than your faith can perceive right now.”
4 Habits to Take Your Spiritual Fitness to the Next Level (Rick Warren for Charisma Magazine): I love the idea of fortifying your faith. Manny Ohonme used this phrase in reference to my book, Listen Up, Kids and it has been a personal favorite concept ever since. That’s because, as Warren points out, the Bible says in 1 Timothy 4:7, “Spend your time and energy in the exercise of keeping spiritually fit” (TLB). On that note, helps us do that by giving four spiritual habits that will fortify our faith.