DAY TWO
Understand spiritual growth deeper and discover why many Christians are not growing regardless of sincere trials to be spiritually active. By the end of this session you will be mentally liberated and eager to take right steps to spititual growth.
15-20 Minutes | VIDEO, READING + PRAYER
DAY 2 - WHY AM I NOT GROWING?
Yesterday we discovered that spiritual growth is not simply doing more spiritual activities; rather it is the impact that these activities have on your character, thoughts, desires and actions.
Illustration
Think about food. Eating is essential, but eating itself is not growth. Growth happens after eating, when the food transforms your body into a strong and healthy one. Nobody says: “I ate for three hours today, therefore I must be healthy.” Health is revealed later in how the body functions.
In the same way: Prayer, bible study, church service, are all spiritual eating. But spiritual growth happens after those moments. At the end of the day you ought to measure: Did the chapters I read today change the way I treat people and situations thoroughout the day? Did my one hour prayer affect my attitude and decision making today?
The ultimate achievement is not spending some time in the prayer room; but that the time you spent in that room positively impacts your time out of that room. Because matter of fact life doesnt happen in the prayer room or at church; it happens at work, home, public places with friends, enemies, neighbors, strangers, workmates and that's where the tenacity of our spritual muscles are always tested.
Why Growth Often Stalls
If spiritual growth is transformation in daily life, then many believers struggle because:
They mistake spiritual activities for spiritual growth.
They expect church moments and encounters to sustain everyday life.
They try to sustain growth through determination instead of dependence.
They disconnect from God after devotional moments.
Maybe you have experienced this before: You leave church inspired, You finish devotion feeling close to God. You attend a powerful gathering and decide “This time I’ll really change.” Then just a few days in, life happens! Crazy days, crazy people, disappointments, temptations and suddenly you're flat to the ground again. It is because spiritual growth is not all that motivation. Paul described that frustration in Romans 7:18-19 “...I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out…”
John 15:4-5 declares: “Abide in Me… apart from Me you can do nothing.” He told us to abide which literally means to stay with Him all the time (not just in our devotional time). If we can't find means to fellowship with God outside prayer rooms, we shall always be stuck spiritually.
And that raises the final question:
How then do we stay spiritually connected (abiding in Him) in everyday life? The hint is in Philippians 2:13 "...it is God Himself that works in you both to will AND TO DO His good pleasure." So tomorrow we shall discover God's provision for HIMSELF to be at work in us in everyday life, pushing spiritual growth.
Today’s Activation
1. Think sincerely: Has my desire really been more bible study, prayer or transformation in character, thoughts and actions?
2. Try today to observe yourself away from your devotional time. Throughout today, intentionally try to live in a way that reflects Jesus in ordinary moments. Notice where you succeed naturally, and where effort alone seems insufficient
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for every moment You have given me to seek You through prayer, Scripture, and fellowship with others. I thank You for opening my eyes to see that beyond these moments, You desire transformation. I know You have made provisions for me to grow, so I surrender myself that You will teach me. Prepare my heart to discover how You designed me to walk with You daily, all for Your Glory, in Jesus' Precious Name, Amen.
