Spiritual Growth: Living the With-God Life

It goes without saying that our physical, mental, and emotional life is vital. If we don’t grow physically, we’re stunted. If we don’t grow mentally, we’re challenged, and emotional growth brings stability.

But there’s more to growth than this. We are spiritual beings who must rely on God for our spiritual growth.

Peter, the Apostle, reminds us that this is what it is to journey to the heart of God. In his last will and testament, 2 Peter 3:18 admonishes us to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

The Psalmist left us a prayer, humbly asking God for such growth, for this is the place we come to know God intimately.

Golden Text

To You, O LORD, I lift up my soul. O my God, in You I trust… Make me to know Your ways, O LORD; teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation: for You I wait all the day… Oh, guard my soul. Ps 25: 1-2b; 4-5; & 20a ESV

Spiritual Growth

From the day you were born again, you began to grow. An unseen, gentle hand began to lead you in Spirit and truth. It takes the willing soul and the tender Teacher to make such growth successful.

Our knowledge of the Holy is vital, and like natural growth, the spiritual should move unhindered. We need grace, and grace is divine assistance that allows the Holy Spirit to lead, guide, counsel, help, and teach us.

Years have told the tale of His faithfulness. We’re babes no more. Once we needed milk and tender, loving direction. As we grow, we need something more. We need the transforming power of sacred Scripture, fellowship with the Holy, and to live the “with-God” life.

Spiritually, you never reach a point where you stop growing, and this is good. The more you know the Lord, the more you want to know. Knowledge from Him is unlimited. Yet if we fellowship with Him daily, we will receive our daily bread like manna from heaven.

We gather this daily manna as we read the Spirit-illuminated Scripture. Even Jesus said in Matthew 4:4, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

We need a daily dose of the Holy Spirit to make sure we’re not stunted in our spiritual growth. If not, our growth can be contaminated by adding what was never meant to be there in the first place.

Our spirit, soul, and body need the Lord daily if we’re to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. If we’re not centered in Christ, our growth will be crooked and malformed.

God is faithful to keep safe that which is placed in His hands. He sanctifies us completely. The yielded spirit will mature, the trusting soul will find rest, and the surrendered body learns to move in the sovereign, moral, and personal will of God.

Living Sacrifice

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – which is your spiritual worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing, and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2 NIV.

The growth process begins with yielding wholeheartedly to the Lord.

All or nothing.

By presenting your body, you’re dedicating all of yourself to Him — wholly set apart for His good purposes. Do this daily, for it is pure worship that pleases the Lord.

The Farmer cannot tend a garden that doesn’t belong to Him.

The yielded soul will be conformed right, not to the superficial values and customs of the world. You will be transformed and progressively changed as you mature spiritually by the renewing of your mind. A mind now focused on godly values and ethical attitudes.

Now you will move in God’s purpose and plan for you — spirit, soul, and body.

The Lord is Near

… The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Phil 4:5b-7 NIV. Based on our relationship with God, we can face trouble or problems in a new and strong way. First, He is near, and second, we are growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord, the God of peace.

The problems committed to the Holy are in good hands. He is trustworthy to see us through and keep us safe. A yielded heart and mind are safely guarded by the Holy in Christ Jesus.

Surrendered, yielded, at peace! There’s no better place to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. More than increasing in intellectual knowledge, we’re learning by habit to trust Him, come what may.

Sanctified and Safe

May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it. 1 Thess 5:23-24 NIV.

The God of peace that stands watch, guards your heart and mind, also protects you. He Himself personally brings you peace to sanctify you as He prepares you today for the place He’s prepared for you in eternity.

God delights in you and is eagerly looking forward to bringing you to Himself in the last days.

He gladly separates you from profane and vulgar things to make you pure, whole, and undamaged. You are treasured, so what is yielded to Him is consecrated and set apart just for Him.

Now here is the beauty in growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord. You discover this: He who calls you is faithful to complete what He started, so not even your destination is left to chance.

The With God Life is Real

I hope you see it clearly now. The “with God” life is the real life the Lord wants for you.

“The Psalmist cried for God to show him His ways; Paul urged us to yield wholeheartedly to God and reminded us that the Lord is near; and then again assured us that we’re completely safe because God is absolutely faithful and trustworthy to keep what is committed to Him until He calls us home.

Then He who helped us grow in grace and knowledge brings us to Himself because in the “with God” life He made us holy, guarded us, watched over us with love, and protected us as His own.

As For Me, I Will Grow

You know, I was born again on February 10, 1972. Not a day has gone by that I am not grateful, nor do I regret giving Him what I could not keep for myself.

Let the world grow old gracefully. As for me, I will grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord.

When we meet face-to-face, He will be no stranger, because we’ve already walked hand in hand in Spirit and Truth.

On that day, we will not only know the sound of His voice, but we’ll also speak His language. The heart that yields to the Holy One not only grows in the grace and knowledge of the Lord, but also beats in harmony with the Lord’s heart.

Call to Action

Now may you grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ our Lord. Make this prayer personally yours:

Heavenly Father, I lift up my soul to you alone, and I wholeheartedly trust you. Make me to know Your ways and teach me to take Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me. You are my God, the God of my salvation. I am most grateful for this “with-God” life so I may grow in the grace and knowledge of You. Thank you for Your constant companionship and guiding hand. I love You, O Lord. I love You. Amen.