How can we measure our spiritual growth?

Posted : 29 Nov, 2010 05:58 PM

Here is another inspiring article by Dr. Charles Stanley from one of the issues of In Touch magazine that gives us a "spiritual barometer" to use to help us guage our spiritual growth.



Steve



A Barometer for Spiritual Growth

13 Signposts to Mark Your Progress



By Charles F. Stanley

A lot of people fall away from the will of God without even noticing until they're in deep trouble. Because it is easy to stray from the path that the Lord has set for our life, we are wise to check ourselves once in a while. Spiritual growth is a tricky thing to track, let alone outright define. We are called in 2 Peter 3:14 to "be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless." By "diligent," Peter means that we are always to be on alert, with our mind focused on our development in Christ. Yet how can we best measure that growth?



I certainly do not claim to have it all figured out myself, but after decades of studying God's Word and pastoring thousands of men and women, I recognize several markers that are helpful in tracking spiritual growth. These are all things that we can expect to take place as we grow more mature in our faith.



Let's run down a list of 13 different spiritual signposts that we can use to mark our path toward maturity. I encourage you not to read this article just once and then set it aside. Instead, take out a slip of paper and write these things down to keep in your Bible. This list can be a reference for believers who want to grow in their faith.



A hunger to know God more



If we are maturing in our Christian walk, then we will certainly have a growing hunger to know God. We will not be satisfied with how well we know Him or His ways; instead, we will constantly yearn for deeper understanding of our Father.



A desire to know the truth of the Word



If we are growing in the Lord, then we will want to know what He says about everything. A vital part of our maturity is understanding the power and relevance of God's Word for us today, in every area of our lives. We must seek to discover what Scripture says about our families, relationships, ministries, churches, careers, politics, and every other aspect of life.



Let me ask you a tough question: How much time do you spend reading the Word of God, compared to the time you spend watching television, reading magazines, or scanning newspapers and Web sites? I know that it is important to stay up-to-date on world events, but we must be careful not to give too much of our time away to worldly things. Personally, I would much rather know what God has to say than what man has to say.



An increasing awareness of our sinfulness



As we grow closer to the Lord, we become more and more aware of our desperate need for Him. This doesn't mean that mature Christians should view themselves as worthless or devalue their self-worth in any way. Rather, this awareness means that our maturing spirit simply will not tolerate the same sins that once came so easily.



At salvation, we become new creations (2 Cor. 5:17), but as long as we remain in our earthly bodies, we're subject to the human drives and desires of the "flesh." However, when we abide in the Holy Spirit, those things are brought under His control, and we become increasingly aware of our own weaknesses. By recognizing these "danger zones," we can more effectively guard against them.



A quick response to sin, involving genuine repentance



Immature believers put off dealing with iniquity for as long as they can. Many people even admit, "Well, I know God will forgive me anyway, so I'm just going to hang on to this sin for a little longer." What a horrible misuse of the grace of God.



When we are growing spiritually, we will no longer be able to loiter so effortlessly in sin. Then if we should stumble, we will want to bring that offense to the feet of God and repent of our actions as quickly as possible.



Joy in the midst of intense spiritual battles



As we mature in our faith, spiritual warfare will become more intense. This means that our problems may seem bigger and our temptations more inviting. However, as we trust in the Holy Spirit, we can still rejoice, because we know that God is in the process of developing us into mature believers. Every time He brings us through a battle, we are left with the assurance that there is nothing beyond His power to overcome.



Understanding trials and temptations as opportunities for growth



When do you think Christians grow more�during times of hardship or times of success? The truth is that we generally learn the most about the Lord during those periods when everything seems hopeless. Even though the situation is painful, mature believers recognize the potential for God to reveal Himself in a mighty way.



When our backs are against the wall and we have no choice but to trust the Lord's power to see us through the trial, we discover things about His character that could not have been revealed otherwise. In that, we find that the benefits far outweigh the losses in our struggles (2 Cor. 4:17).



Viewing service to God as an honor, not a burden



If we are growing in the Lord, we will want to serve Him. You have most likely heard the old adage, "Love is spelled T-I-M-E." My friend, if you love the Lord, you will want to show that by giving Him your time.



What's more, the motivation for your service will be love, not responsibility or obligation. No one will force you to serve God. However, if you are maturing in the Lord, you will truly enjoy the time you spend in service to Him. This doesn't mean you must keep your life filled with "busy work." Remember that even though we're called to serve, we are also called to observe a day or season of rest. God wants us at our best, but that cannot happen if we take no breaks and work ourselves to exhaustion.



Viewing everything�both good and bad�as coming from the Lord



Too often when tragedy occurs, we try to protect the Lord by saying, "Well, surely God had nothing to do with that." My friend, God does not need our protection, nor does He need us to make excuses for Him! If we are to be mature believers, then we must understand the Father's complete and total sovereignty. In other words, everything that happens�whether good or bad�is under His control.



At times we may not understand the Lord's purposes for certain things; nevertheless, we are to trust that His will is perfect and He is able to bring good out of any situation. It is important that His children believe what He says in Romans 8:28�that God can and does work all things together for good to those who love and serve Him.



Faith to ask God for bigger things



As we mature in Christ, so does our faith and confidence that God will answer our prayers. The Lord wants us to pray big; there is nothing we can ask that will be too much for Him to accomplish.



Of course, His answer may be "No," but God is honored by the size of our requests. It takes a great deal of faith to ask for something that seems impossible. Mature believers show confidence in God by asking for bigger and bigger things while allowing the Holy Spirit to guide their requests.



Eagerness to share Christ with others



One of the signs that you are growing in the Lord is that you cannot stay quiet about it. God's overwhelming grace may overtake you in such a way that you just have to tell someone what He is doing in your life.



As our faith matures, we develop a heart for other people. And since we know what God has done for us, the most sincere way to help others is to share the good news of Jesus Christ. When we are overcome with the need to tell others, we can be sure that God is doing a mighty work in our lives.



Earnest desire to give to the Lord's work



One key evidence of a believer's maturity is what happens to his pocketbook. Over and over again, Scripture warns us about the dangers of money. Did you know that Jesus taught more on this subject than any other topic in the Bible? The issue is that if we are unfaithful with something as temporary as our money, why should we expect God to entrust us with something of eternal value?



Our checkbooks are little windows into our souls. If we are not faithful in that area, then every other part of our Christian life will be skewed. Matthew 6:21 reveals that the heart�our true focus�will be where our treasure lies. If your heart is for ministry, then you will give gladly to the work of the gospel.



An increasing awareness of God in every area of life



A mature believer is one who is constantly aware of the presence and work of God. First Thessalonians 5:16-18 tells us that a growing Christian prays continually. This does not mean that we must walk around every moment of the day with eyes closed and head bowed. Rather, it is an instruction to abide in the presence of God at all times.



A true believer cannot compartmentalize his life. This means that the person you are at church on Sunday is the same as the person you are during the week at home, work, or school. Faith is not a part-time commitment. If we are believers, we must believe at all times.



The priority of a personal devotional life



The most important part of the day for a mature believer is the time dedicated solely to growing closer to the Father. It is then that we are filled with power, direction, and comfort. Our time of devotion sets the tone for the whole day; if we frantically rush through praying, chances are great that our day will be unorganized as well. A Christian who is truly growing in the Lord will certainly guard that precious time with Him.



What now?



The purpose of this list was not to give a precise report card evaluating whether or not you are "mature." Rather, it is meant to provide a type of measuring stick by which you can assess your Christian growth.



Again, I encourage you to keep a copy of this list in your Bible. Pull it out occasionally, and for each point, ask yourself, "Is this true of me, Lord?" I pray that as you honestly go through this process, you will discover over time that you are, in fact, changing into the person God wants you to be.



Are You Growing?



In this two-CD set, Dr. Stanley teaches specific steps you can take to promote spiritual development and measure your progress.



Measure Your Spiritual Growth



2-CD set | $8 (U.S.)



Copyright 2010 In Touch Ministries, Inc. All rights reserved. www.intouch.org. In Touch grants permission to print for personal use only.

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