It’s that time of year once again when I begin to reflect on where the Lord has taken me on my journey of growth in Him since the year began. Just as it excites a kid to see a mark on his growth chart higher than the previous one, any growth in the Lord is one of the surest antidotes to spiritual boredom.
Whether in big measure or small, the Lord knows that when our heart’s desire is to grow in Him, to not end the year in the exact same place where we began the year, He gives us opportunities to say “YES” to Him. And if He is truly Lord of every area of our lives, we will be compelled to respond to His commands with “YES, Lord” ….
Even if it’s hard.
Even if our finances are stretched.
Even if we feel inadequate or unqualified.
Even if we are thrown into the fiery furnace of trials and challenges.
Even if …..
But if we’re honest with ourselves, we know that we don’t always say “YES” to God in perfect obedience, every time we read His commands in the bible, or when He speaks to us about a specific assignment He wants us to do. Hence our lifelong opportunity to keep growing in Him. As Graham Cooke says, “We cannot fail the tests of God but we will get to take them again and again and again until we pass! The test is the key to growth…”
Growth in the Lord never happens without obedience. Maturity cannot happen without obedience. If our desire is to become the mature sons and daughters of God (Huios) who reflect and represent Him accurately, then our journey with Him must be one of growing in obedience until our default response to Him becomes “Yes, Lord… even if….”
Even if what we read or hear in His word is hard to do and goes against what our flesh wants or feels like doing. Even if what He’s asking us to do challenges our finances or is beyond what we feel adequate or qualified for. Even if doing what He says means we’ll end up in the fiery furnace of trials and challenges.
James put it plainly: “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” (James 1:22)
DO. WHAT. IT. SAYS.
Easier said than done. But it’s only when we make the choice to obey God with an unwavering “YES” that the Holy Spirit releases His power in us to DO what God says. It helps me to think of “YES” as a trigger word that releases His empowerment in our lives when we align with His will.
Looking back over the year, I see many opportunities that the Lord has graciously given me to grow in Him. But it never stops at just one person. Quoting Pastor Ray Duerksen from one of my recent Church Renewal lessons: “Each time God ignites something in the life of one person, He intends to spread it to countless others.” That’s His outward vision. One such opportunity was saying “YES” to mentoring a group of pastors’ wives and ministry leaders in spite of feeling inadequate and unqualified. This decision has in turn given me the incredible blessing of growing alongside these precious women, all of whom are themselves committed to their own growth in Jesus and influencing countless others for Him.
It excites me to think of what God can do in and through Lifespring when each of us commits to growing in obedience to Him. It begins with an individual decision of commitment but the Holy Spirit’s empowerment and God’s outward vision can multiply the impact of one decision and propel it beyond Lifespring to accomplish His purposes for His Name’s Sake!
“Father God, help us to remember that obedience to you is our highest form of worship and the greatest evidence of our love for you. May we daily enthrone your Son, Jesus, as Lord of every area of our lives and commit to growing in obedience to your will. Thank you, Holy Spirit, that you are ever ready to empower us to DO what the Word of God says. Amen!”