GROWING TOWARD GOD
I believe firmly in that principle.
Sometimes God tells us his will during prayer, at a conference, through someone else-in any number of ways. And in that one illuminating moment we often respond with a resounding yes, even when we want to say no. Our hearts, our heads, our entire being understands that God has given us his word, his will, his way. No amount of worry or worthless speculation carries any weight at that moment. God has spoken!
Then lo and behold-time slips away and slowly, temptation slips in. We begin telling ourselves tales of desire that tempt us into listening to that gnawing voice in our head. “I want this, I deserve this, I need this!”
It’s as old as Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, or Cain and Abel in the field of dreams. Jealousy, anger, prideful poverties push us into following our will and not the will of God. Instead of stopping the enemy at the gate, we romance our thoughts, rationalize our desires and eventually seek council to support our backsliding! Our will is being hi-jacked!
When we open the door to God with our “yes” he can enter into our hearts and manifest his will for our lives. When we close the door with our “no” God is unable to tell us his plans. Our spiritual growth is stunted!
Saying yes can be uncomfortable, exhausting and even scary because of our fragile, fragmented human nature. But believe me when I say this-staying the course and going with God is absolutely imperative if we want to grow in spiritual wisdom!
It’s a lot like brain science. Scientists tell us in a baby, the brain over-produces brain cells (neurons) and connections between brain cells (synapses) and then starts pruning them back around the age of three. The process is much like the pruning of a tree. By cutting back weak branches, others flourish. A second wave of synapse formation begins along with a spurt of growth in the frontal cortex just before puberty (age 11 in girls, 12 in boys) and then the pruning back starts again in adolescence.
The brain actually consolidates learning by pruning away synapses and wrapping white matter (myelin) around other connections to stabilize and strengthen them. The period of pruning, in which the brain actually loses gray matter, is as important for brain development as is the period of growth.
Spiritual growth, like brain growth is progressive and the process of pruning however painful-will strengthen our spiritual muscle. God is removing all the heavy hurts and haughty attitudes that eclipse his love and block us from growing toward him.
God is challenging us to change. He is asking us to choose good over evil, selflessness over our own selfish desires, humility over pride. When we cooperate God is guiding us out of our inner darkness into his illuminating light, so that we will become exactly the person he designed us to become! A light for others!
Today’s scripture explains just how beautiful the pruning process can be.
2 Corinthians 4:7-15
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