How We GROW

God wants us to grow up.

Imagine riding in a speedboat on a lake with an automatic pilot set to go east. If you decide to reverse and head west, you have 2 possible ways to change the boat's directions:
1. Grab the steering wheel and physically force it to head in the opp direction
from where the autopilot is programmed to go.
2. By sheer willpower you could overcome the autopilot, but you would feel constant
resistance. Your arms would eventually tire of the stress, you would let go of
the steering wheel, and the boat would instantly head back east, the way it was
internally programmed.

The 2nd is what happens when one tries to change her life with willpower. I often say " I will force myself to eat less... exercise more, eat my medicine, monitor the health of my heart..." Yes willpower can produce short-term change, but it creates internal stress because the root cause is not dealt with. The change doesn't come naturally, so i eventually give up, and revert to my old patterns, which only make the conditions worse.

I guess changing the autopilot -- the way you think, is a better and easier way. You know, the first step in spiritual growth is to start changing the way you think. Change always starts first in your spirit and mind. The way you think determines the way you feel, and the way you feel influences the way you think. The Bible says, "Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think"

Your heavenly Father's goal is for you to mature and develop the characteristic of Jesus Christ. Sadly, millions of Christians grow older but never grow up. They are stuck in perpetual spiritual infancy, remaining in diapers and booties. The reason is that they never intended to grow.

Spiritual growth is not automatic. It takes an intentional commitment. You must want to grow, decide to grow, make an effort to grow, and persist in growing.

Nothing shapes your life more than the commitments you choose to make. Your commitments can develop you or they can destroy you, but either way, they will define you. It is at this point of commitment that most ppl miss God's purpose for their lives. Many are afraid to commit to anything. Some make half-hearted commitments to competing values. Others make full commitment to worldly goals such as becoming wealthy or successful. Every choice has eternal consequences, we become whatever we are committed to.

The Christian life is far more than creeds and convictions, it includes conduct and character. Our deeds must be consistent with our creeds, and our beliefs must be backed up with Christlike behavior.

We are commanded to "think the same way that Christ Jesus thought". In order to do this, we must stop thinking immature thoughts, which are self-centered and self-seeking. "Stop thinking like children" the bible says. Babies by nature are completely selfish. They think only of themselves and their own needs. They are incapable of giving, they can only receive. This is immature thinking, and many never grow beyond that kind of thinking. God reminds us every now and then that it is the source of sinful behavior.

It is never too late to start growing.