Keys to Spiritual Growth: 4 Ways to Develop Spiritual Maturity
Last spring, the week after we bought a new furnace, I walked into the laundry room to discover a sudsy, wet floor. The washing machine had broken, too. Of course. As I stared at the soapy water, I had no idea that God was going to use the situation to remind me of several life-changing keys to spiritual growth.
Keys to Spiritual Growth
As I moved boxes and began sopping up the water with beach towels, I calculated the cost of a new washing machine and thought, When it rains, it pours.
Later that evening, as I lay in bed and reviewed the events of the day, I remembered the last time the washing machine broke.
Close to ten years ago, the same scenario unfolded when I walked into the laundry room and discovered a wet floor. The mess and unexpected expense sent me into a tailspin of emotions. I was undone by the stress and stomped around the house in an irritated haze feeling overwhelmed.
As I reflected on the difference between the two similar scenarios, I recognized something surprising: personal growth.
This time, when the washing machine broke, my emotions didn’t go off the rails. I wasn’t thrilled about the unfortunate financial strain of needing to replace two major appliances in one week, but it was so ridiculous that I was able to laugh about it.
4 Keys to Spiritual Growth
The situation led me to reflect on the attitudes that have helped me grow over the past decade. I have a long way to go on this journey of spiritual growth; however, here are a few of the biggest lessons that have helped me learn to live with greater peace.
If you’re searching for keys to spiritual growth today, I pray these insights will bless and challenge you.
1. Grow in spiritual maturity with a stewardship mindset.
Several years ago, when the world shut down amid the global pandemic, life felt out of control in many ways. As I scrambled to teach our kindergartener to read (poor timing for a global shutdown), all while caring for a one-year-old and supporting a fourth-grader, the stress was consuming.
I felt like I was failing my kids and failing as a mom.
What if our kindergartener never learned to read? What if our fourth-grader fell behind and the baby never learned to interact with other human beings?
As these questions floated through my mind, God offered me a gentle impression that changed my life forever. I sensed him inviting me to do my best to steward the assignment while trusting him with the results.
This mentality freed me from the need to try to orchestrate the perfect outcome or control what was never mine to control.
Since that time, I’ve uttered the following words countless times: “Steward the assignment and trust God with the results.”
Imagine how different your most challenging situation might become if you decided not to clamber for control. What if you decided to be a good steward of your part of the assignment while letting God handle the results? This is one of the most life-changing keys for spiritual growth.
2. Recognize that challenges are opportunities to practice the skills you’ve been learning.
A few years ago, I told a friend that I was feeling frustrated about feeling anxious.
“Stacey, anxiety isn’t a sin, and it doesn’t mean you’ve done anything wrong. Try to see it as an opportunity to practice the skills you’ve been learning when it comes to overcoming anxiety,” my friend advised.
I’ve learned to embrace this same mindset whenever troubles of all sorts come my way. When I feel anxious, worried, fearful, or doubtful, I practice the skills I’ve been learning. I name my emotions, study them with curiosity and compassion, and bring them to the Lord.
I then let him guide me and show me how to proceed.
The same invitation awaits you. Instead of feeling frustrated by your difficult emotions, see these moments as opportunities to practice the skills you’ve been working on.
Feeling anxious? Step back, breathe, talk to God, and speak a calming Bible verse.
Feeling overwhelmed? Ask God to show you which parts of the assignment in front of you are yours to control and which are best left in his trustworthy hands.
Feeling fearful? Keep reading, and we’ll talk about how to turn to God in fearful moments, too.
3. Grow in spiritual maturity by learning to trust God when you don’t understand his ways.
I’m all about trusting God when his ways make sense to me. However, when life turns upside down—when I cannot make sense of what is happening around me—my trust is put to the test.
At times, God has closed the doors on my hopes and dreams, and his ways have baffled me. When this happens, I’ve learned to ask God to help me trust him with what I cannot understand.
I might not understand why the washing machine and the furnace broke in the same week. But I can trust that God will use this for my good and his glory.
Learning to trust God in confusing times requires practice. If you are facing a situation that doesn’t make sense right now, ask God to help you grow in trust. This is a prayer he will answer, and it is also a powerful key to spiritual growth.
4. Fight fear with the Word and worship.
When fearful thoughts attack me and won’t abate, I’ve learned to fight back with two powerful weapons. I speak God’s Word out loud and worship in song. This is one of the most important keys to spiritual growth: We turn to God instead of turning to our human strength in troubled times.
When I’m worried about my kids, I claim God’s promises over their lives. I sing over them and declare that they belong to God, and he will fulfill his purpose for them.
When I’m worried about our finances, my writing career, friendships, or our family’s health, I speak God’s promises over these parts of our lives and worship him.
Are you fighting fearful thoughts today?
Every time the anxious, worried, or fearful thought comes to mind, speak a Bible verse out loud. Find a fear-fighting worship song and sing it to God. Fear will begin to lose its grip on you.
When fearful thoughts attack me and won’t abate, I’ve learned to fight back with two powerful weapons. I speak God’s Word out loud and worship in song. #Fear #Worship Click To TweetA Free Devotional to Help You Practice These Keys to Spiritual Growth
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