Intentional About Growth

Aug 24

2 min read

Spiritual growth does not simply happen with time. We must intentionally make room to grow in Christ.

Most things that are important to us require some level of intentionality. Healthy relationships need our attention. Learning requires time and effort. Even maintaining our physical health requires us to make choices about how we live.

The same is true of our faith.

Peter closes his second letter with these words: “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18, NIV).

Spiritual growth does not simply happen because we have been Christians for many years. We can attend worship, know the familiar Bible stories, and still become comfortable where we are. Growing in Christ requires us to be intentional.

This does not mean that our growth depends entirely upon us. Peter has already reminded us that God “has given us everything we need for a godly life” (2 Peter 1:3, NIV). God provides what we need, and we respond by continuing to seek him.

Being intentional may mean setting aside time to read Scripture, pray, or become more involved in a local church family. It may mean studying something that challenges us to think more deeply. It may mean recognizing an area of our lives that needs to change as we become more like Jesus.

We should never assume that simply growing older means we are growing spiritually.

How can you intentionally grow in Christ this week?

Adding to Your Faith

This article is part of Adding to Your Faith, a series exploring how we can continue growing and maturing in Christ. Throughout the series, we will consider the importance of intentional growth, transformation, Christian community, and putting our faith into practice.