Growth is Intentional

Someone once said, "Change is inevitable, growth is intentional."

So very true.

Think about it how your life has changed from 10 years ago. 5 years ago. A year ago. A month ago! We are naturally people who change and are changing people living in a changing world. I think this makes God even more amazing because he is the same God of yesterday, today and tomorrow.

If we can live as people who know change is around the corner then we can begin to live as people who try to grow closer to God.

Growth is absolutely, hands down an intentional process. Now that I live in farmer's country I am reminded of that more. Growth doesn't just happen. Well, ok...weeds just seem to grow without any help. But who really wants weeds to grow in their relationship with God? I pray the answer is "no one." In order to grow what you want, to raise what you intend, there must be effort, planning and work. The same is so very true in our spiritual lives.

Oliver Cromwell said this once, "He who ceases to be better, ceases to be good."

Living for Christ requires intentionality. I love that word. I love that idea. People called to "follow me" are called into discipleship and being his "ambassador" requires intentional, planned, sought after growth.

So, how can we be intentional in our spiritual growth and not allow change around us and in our lives grow us? How can we be people who grow meaningful, deep lasting relationships with God rather than weeds just coming up?

First, I think it starts with daily choice. The choice to grow. The choice to be closer to Him. Laura wants to plant a garden, a small one, with some of her favorites. A garden doesn't just happen. A garden has never just popped up. I mean, that would be great because there would be way less work involved, but Laura didn't walk out back and go, "A garden just came up!" Her garden (which has yet to come) began with a choice to have one. I believe the same principal is true spiritually. If you want to grow a great relationship with God, then the choice has to be made that you are going to grow.

Secondly, plan and prepare. Planting garden requires some work before planting. You have to plan where the garden will be placed and prepare that area for a garden. You can't plant if there are other things there, but planning and preparing that place for a garden can make it happen. If you make that choice that growth with God is going to happen, then prepare yourself that a spiritual garden with God is going to grow. I think here we have to be prepared to dig up things we are attached to and like because they will hurt our garden. The biggest question we can ask ourselves here is, "Does this bring me closer to God?" If the answer is "no" then prepare to dig it up.

Thirdly, you have to (as mentioned above) work in the garden.

A man driving on the road noticed a woman standing next to her car looking helpless at her flat tire. He pulled off the road and began changing the tire. "Oh thank you sir. I don't know how to do this." "You don't have to," the man replied, "this is no job for a lady." After the job was complete the man began to lower the car off the jack. The woman put her finger to her lips hushed the man saying, "Shhh. Please put the jack down easily My husband is taking a nap in the back seat!"

Your relationship with God is YOUR relationship and if you don't work on it then it will not be worked on. No one is going to stop and work for you. We are often the guy in the back seat rather than the guy getting the job done. If work in the garden of your relationship isn't being taken care of, then weeds grow more and take over the nice, wanted things.

Ok, but how do we really, truly work? Good question. Working, I don't think, means treating God like a job or a burden. Rather the opposite. Spend time with God in his Word, in prayer and in His church. Make God a part of your day. Take Him to work. See Him in the creation around you. Seek His blessings in yours and others lives. I can't imagine God wants us to feel like he is another job. I believe God wants us to be those workers who spend those Saturday mornings in the garden, enjoying pruning and picking weeds, watering the vegetables as they continue to get bigger while their children run around in the grass and they are sipping on a cup of coffee soaking all of it in.

"All change is not growth; as all movement is not forward." -Ellen Glasgow

Things change. I've been reminded of that so much these last few months. Change is going to happen. Will change happen because weeds are growing up in my life or will change happen because I'm being intentional and working my spiritual garden? I pray for the latter.