A Practical Guide for Transformative Growth Part 3Sample

Introduction

The Spiritual Growth Process shown above codifies the internal processes involved in your spiritual growth.

The person at the center of the model is you, and inside of us are the aspects of our character that we must work on to achieve maturity. On the left side is where we all start – the immature version of ourselves. On the right is where we are trying to get to – the mature version of ourselves. In the center, there are six characteristics of maturity that we all need to work on to move from immaturity to maturity:

• Intimacy with God
• Identity
• Responsibility
• Wholeness
• Resilience
• Competence

Everything starts with intimacy with God. This is the center of our model. Nothing else works without intimacy. It is first in sequence and in importance to the transformation process.

Growth also takes place in the context of a community where we feel we belong. Our community greatly influences our progress (or lack of) to maturity. We cannot become fully mature without the support of and contribution to a healthy community.

In addition, our growth (and the growth of our community) takes place in the context of the sovereign purposes of God. God’s purpose not only directs our growth, but as we mature, we should witness our life experiences becoming more and more purposeful.

Finally, everything about this work of maturity really starts with love. God, outside of our initiative or ability, sovereignly and mercifully calls us, sanctifies us, and glorifies us because He loves us. It is God’s love for us that initiates, sustains, and completes this good work in us. His love is bigger than we can imagine. As we yield to His work in us, we become more and more full of His love, and we walk more and more in His purpose. However, we do not work on these things directly, but as we address the six aspects outlined above, we will begin to see the love and purpose of God increase in our lives.