Day 23: How We Grow

When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.
1 Cor 13:11(NIV)

Today is Monday, the weekend is over, it's time to get back to work. My kids are still out of school so they will be staying home playing video games and having fun at their martial arts class later. Oh how I would have loved to have spent the last few months just hanging out all day playing video games, going to the pool or water park and having fun. But, I'm an adult now and I have responsibilities.

I grew up, not by choice, but by nature. In the world, all living things grow. In people we normally refer to this as maturing, but really it's just aging. Maturing to me is about a mindset. We no longer 'think like a child'. If you know me, you know I enjoy video games, but I also enjoy providing for my family so video games have to fall in behind that. They actually aren't as high on the list as most people would think. Some of the stuff I do to provide for my family, I don't enjoy as much as video games, but in putting family needs first and thinking of them, I can get through.

To grow as a Christian, I had to make a choice. I had to make changes. Anyone who was at my church yesterday may have heard some similar statements from my pastor. I chose to stop drinking like a sailor on shore leave, that was the first and easiest for me, I had good motivation. I still will have an occasional 'adult beverage' but I don't let it get to the point where I give in to debauchery. Another step was getting the 'adult magazines' out of the closet. I hate to admit that that happened just recently, but will tell you that it was more out of laziness than lust. Trust me, they were covered with dust and I put them straight in a bag and out with the trash. I hadn't forgotten about them, but things hidden at the top of the closet tend to get over looked.

That's why it's important to "clean out your closet", take everything out and look at it. See if it still fits. Put it in perspective with your Christian life. Do I keep my Molly Brown's tee shirt with the half naked lady on it, nope. What would it say to people if I wore it to church? And what it comes down to is that things that don't fit need to go. I've made small choices at first, I worked with the Holy Spirit on pruning things. As He gave me strength to cut one thing out, it became easier to cut the next thing. And like a plant, pruning really helps it to blossom and highlights what we want to show off.

I had to think about the things in my life as if my pastor was coming over for dinner. Could I take him on a tour of the house and then just ignore the one closet and pray he wouldn't ask "what's behind that door?". That's not the reason we haven't had you over yet, believe me.

There is no easy way to grow as a Christian. You are going to meet resistance from the world every step of the way. But by changing my thinking and trusting God, I have managed to take a few small steps in the right direction. I am in partnership with the Holy Spirit like I spoke about yesterday. When I calm myself and focus on His voice, the choices become clear. Although I may catch some flak from people of the world, I know that I am working towards a higher goal than just living for me and for this life.

The Book of Romans gives us our quote this week. It wasn't the one I started the blog with.

Don't be like the people of this world, but let God change the way you think. Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to him.
Rom 12:2 (CEV)

Today's question: What is one area where I need to stop thinking 'my' way and start thinking 'God's' way? I need to give more control of my computer time to God. I need to get on, do what I need to do, and get off because there are other things He needs me to be doing with my time.

Remember: It is never too late to start growing.