Fighting your flesh changes.
It has levels.
Growth levels.
It won’t always be a battle to not have the drink, or fall into sexual sin.
It won’t.
That temptation passes.
Trust me, it really will pass.
That becomes the easy stuff.
After that… comes the hard stuff.
Spiritual growth comes when you can tear down your opinions, and submit your thoughts to God.
Even when you don’t like it.
Even when it doesn’t make sense.
Even when the world tells you you’re wrong.
Spiritual growth comes when you know truth on a subject (health, secondary issues, moon landings) and you’re capable of laying down your need to be heard because it won’t pull people closer to Christ. You learn to save those conversations for specific circles and only speak as Holy Spirit leads.
Spiritual growth comes when you learn that personal convictions from Holy Spirit are not blanket statements meant for the masses. They are not God’s commands for all. You learn to move in obedience – in silence.
Spiritual growth comes when you can forgive someone who’s not sorry. Who won’t ever be sorry, and yet you’ve come to a place of peace. You’re no longer ruled by emotion, but you have compassion for them because they are stuck in such darkness.
It’s when you can offer a hand up to someone who’s harmed you and expect nothing in return. That’s spiritual growth.
Spiritual growth is when you stop defending yourself and allow God to be your defender, regardless of the situation.
Spiritual growth is when you stop trying to be anyone’s Savior and you place them in the hands of The One who is.
Spiritual growth comes when you have the ability to hear pride, comparison, gossip, anger, or fear in your own voice without pointing a finger at anyone but yourself.
It comes when you hate your own sin, more than anyone else’s.
That’s the hard stuff.
That’s next-level crucifying of your flesh.
That’s growth in Christ.
To learn more about Heidi and her Kingdom passion, visit Kingdom Come Home
Featured Image by Annette Meyer from Pixabay
