This weekend “change” has been on my heart. It has been one year since we moved to Orange County and came to Compass Bible Church. Friday night we had a formal year-end banquet with our high school students where we looked back on the year and realized together how God’s hand is working among us. (To see an album of pictures from this, click here!) It’s amazing to look at things in retrospect of just one year. So much can change.

Tyler is just over a year old, so looking at him, it’s easy to see the many ways that he has changed. Being a baby it makes sense that in one year Tyler grows, develops and learns many new things. But this isn’t always true of us is it? Change isn’t as noticeable or expected. We’re adults now, nobody is measuring our head circumference and telling us what percentile our height and weight are compared to everyone else our age. But I wish everyone took spiritual growth more seriously. Not just waiting for something to force them out of their “funk” but actually initiating change and working toward goals of growth.

Someone told me a few weeks ago that they had met up with an old college friend who they hadn’t seen in years. The old friend said, “Wow, you haven’t changed at all, you’re still the same old you!” This made my friend feel terrible because she maybe hadn’t really changed. But that comment inspired her to really seek out spiritual change in her life and in turn she motivated me with her passion. Every year, I want to see my disciplines strengthened, love for others intensified, convictions sharpened and boldness for the Lord increased.

Today, Bobby and I had the opportunity to spend time with my family at Medieval Times. I came away really reflecting on the change that has happened in my family. It seems like forever since my four sisters, brother and I all lived at home with my parents. We used to be arguing about who’s turn it was to do the dishes, but now we have our own homes and some of us have our own children. Change can be a strange realization and a good wake-up call.

In all these thoughts about change one keeps surfacing and it is–Is the change happening in me pleasing the Lord? I sure hope that all the change is that I’m becoming more nagging or gossipy, but I think that’s what it will be if I don’t actively seek out godly change. 2 Peter 3:18 says,

“Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
To him be the glory both now and forever! Amen.”

A few things really stood out from this verse when I read it today.

Grace. We grow, not because we have mustered up all our energy and are just going to act like a Christian should act. That’s not the kind of change we’re looking for. Grace is undeserved favor. God is showering this on us everyday. He is assisting and enabling us by His grace as we pursue change toward Christ likeness. It stood out to me because change isn’t something that we do alone, it’s something that God works in our hearts.

Knowledge. This is a spiritual growth that we’re looking for, not just personal betterment like you finally got in the habit of flossing your teeth every night or being courteous to telemarketers. The kind of growth we need is in knowing our Lord and Savior. This makes me think it will be a lot of work. Studying His Word, devoting time to pray to Him, talking with others about Him and looking for what He is doing in their lives. This isn’t going to just happen. Knowledge comes from some effort on our part.

To Him be the glory. Spiritual growth in our relationship with God isn’t so we can show off how mature we are, it is to give God the glory that He is due. He has drawn us, saved us and is providing all the means, in His divine grace, for us to grow in our knowledge of Him. We don’t deserve a pat on the back, but instead we can be shooting up praise back to Him for the works of change He is doing in us to make us more like His Son.

I am personally really convicted about pursuing this kind of godly change! I can think of some specific areas that I need to hone in on and I have hope by looking at some areas I can see progress in this year. Maybe this year we will be changed more than ever before…all for His glory!