Growing in any season takes a specific set of skills. In this series, we’ve been looking at five things you need to grow in any season. So far, we’ve covered faith and love. Today, we’re wrapping up the series with the final three.
Core Scripture:
“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.” (2 Peter 3:18, KJV)
Recap:
Last episode, we talked about 3 Ways Growing in Love Helps You Navigate Any Season. First, love helps you see things through. Second, your actions change. And third, your commitment changes.
Three: Grow in how you speak
Number three: how you speak has to change. Your language has to be different. Paul says, “When you speak the truth, speak it in love” (Ephesians 4:15). Your language matters—you can’t speak death and expect life. It doesn’t work like that. You have to speak life. You have to speak the Word. Isaiah 55:10 tells us God’s Word is like rain and snow, and it will not return to Him void. So when you intercede, speak the Word. When you counsel people, counsel the Word. When you call somebody, call them with a word. When you walk the community, walk with a word. Scripture says you must be ready—able to give an answer for what you know. So when you walk with a word, you walk prepared.
Four: Change what you thought was valuable
Number four: what you thought was valuable has to change. When you grow in grace, your thinking changes—and your mandate changes too. You’ve heard it already: the leaders of the church are looking to expand. They’re looking at business. They’re looking at training—training business leaders, teachers, children and teens, men and women—to operate at another level. And you’re even thinking about planting in another location. That’s where the church is going. So what feels valuable right now might not be valuable where God is taking you. Your outlook has to change because you’re growing. What got you here five years ago won’t take you into the next five. That’s why change matters. Paul said, “What I thought was valuable, I gave it all up for Jesus,” to show you this: your growth plan starts and stops with your relationship with Jesus. And Peter says in 1 Peter 2:2…
Five: Change your desires
Number five: as grace changes you, your desires will change too. Growing in grace means your desires shift. You heard the man of God share it earlier—where he started was one thing, but now that the family is settled, he’s thinking about expanding to another location. The desire isn’t only about making sure there’s a family home for people; that part is already established. So now the desire has changed. And your desires—and your objectives—may look different for the next five years as well. You’re learning what God’s power can provide. You’re learning how to escape the world’s corruption so you’re not trapped by what the world is doing. God’s light is shining into the dark places of your heart, and you’re developing a spirit of wisdom that brings revelation. All of that is part of what growing in knowledge means. Over the past five years, you’ve learned who God is in your life. You’ve watched Him transform your life—so much so that you can testify it was God who did it. You’ve learned the qualities that brought you here, and you’re learning to recognize how God shines His light in your life.
Let me leave you with a few clear objectives for the next five years:
Number one: for the next five years, grow by getting a full revelation of who God is—and of His power. Number two: know the true God and His Son (John 17:3). Number three: bear fruit. Produce results. God is a God of results—whatever He does, He accomplishes it. And bearing results means you live in a way that pleases Him. Number four: clothe yourself with a new nature (Colossians 3:10). His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the full knowledge of the One who called us by His own glory and excellence.
How do you measure growth?
How do you measure growth? If you’re growing, how do you know? Here are 10 quick markers. Number one: are you effective in what you’re doing? Number two: are you productive in achieving your goals? Number three: are you satisfied with what God has provided? Number four: are you still making the same mistakes, or are you moving away from what you used to do? Number five: do you love others? You measure growth by how you love people. Number six: do you speak to others in love? Number seven: have your desires changed? Number eight: are you bearing fruit—producing results? Number nine: do you still value your old lifestyle, or do you value a godly lifestyle? Number ten: have your priorities changed? Keep these 10 markers close, and use them to measure your growth going forward.
Conclusion
Here are a couple things to think about:
- How are you measuring growth?
- Have your values changed?