Changing, Still
Growth can be somewhat subjective. As kids, our growth was measured on doorway beams, during yearly doctor visits and report cards. In college our growth is measured by whether or not we walk away with an expensive piece of paper. As a young adult, growth is measured by who gets what job and how nice your studio apartment is compared to that of your peers.
Maybe the latter is just me.
However, there does come a point in time at which our growth cannot necessarily be measured by a yardstick, GPA or 401K package. This type of growth must happen from the inside before it can become truly visible.
Let me put it this way: I used to be a really sucky person. Like, really sucky. I would:
Judge other women harshly
Speak down to my boyfriends and family
Steal from stores
Hate people because, "We don't like them this week, right?"
and so on...
I'm talking serious Mean Girls status, you guys.
Now, don't get it twisted here. We all suck. We all do things, say things, and act ways that we know aren't right or becoming on us.
MY POINT HERE IS THIS: WE CAN SUCK AS LONG AS WE'RE ACTIVELY WORKING ON NOT SUCKING. YA FEEL ME?
So, how do we grow? How do we go from being who we are today to a not-so-sucky version of us? OR, how do we continue to grow from who we've become into someone who more closely resembles that of Jesus?
"You are a work in progress. Your spiritual transformation in developing the character of Jesus will take the rest of your life, and even then it won't be completed here on Earth."
Rick Warren
If you've followed my journey, you're most likely aware that I left my corporate career in June of 2015 in pursuit of my own coaching career. I thought what God wanted for me was success. I thought His desire for my life was that I reach a level of influence that others didn't have. I thought wrong.
GOD ISN'T INTERESTED
IN OUR CAREERS-
HE'S INTERESTED
IN OUR CHARACTER.
Yes, He cares for us and our wellbeing but what He is most concerned with is that whatever we do, wherever we go, whoever we are - that we are living our life in a Christ-like manner.
"Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out... Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you." Romans 12:2 (MSG)
Therefore, growth isn't excelling in the corporate world, opening more locations, writing a business plan, publishing a book, or getting a promotion.
GROWTH IS CHOOSING TO SHIFT OUR FOCUS
ON BECOMING MORE LIKE JESUS.
READ
Ephesians 4:13
1 Corinthians 10:31
1 Corinthians 16:14
Colossians 3:17
Colossians 3:23
REFLECT
DON'T BE SO HARD ON YOURSELF: OPEN YOUR JOURNAL AND WRITE DOWN ALL THE WAYS YOU'VE ALREADY GROWN AND RECALL THE TIMES HE WAS GENTLY PUSHING YOU TO BE MORE LIKE HIM.
NOW, WRITE DOWN THE AREAS YOU THINK GOD IS CALLING YOU TO BE MORE LIKE JESUS.
WHAT WILL IT LOOK LIKE FOR YOU TO PERSONALLY WORK TOWARDS BEING MORE LIKE HIM? DO YOU NEED AN ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNER? MORE TIME WITH HIM EACH DAY? A GOOD STUDY PLAN? A MENTOR? A HOME CHUCH?