Nurturing our Growth

Maybe you're experiencing this. You started something new because you know it's a healthy, good choice, whether it's exercising, eating healthier, a new job, new role, new attitude, different approach, etc. And in the beginning it felt great. Despite the nervousness from not feeling like an expert yet, you were excited and motivated. The newness provided you a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction. You were thinking, "I am rockin' this!"

But then, it happened. You had all your tools and strategies ready, but the inevitable came. The mundane finally made its appearance. What looked shiny, new and attractive, has now become dull and burdensome. You've lost your excitement and wonder where in the world is your motivation. Life didn't stop around you so you could solely focus on that "new" and master it just yet. And you feel more competent in those old areas, so slowly but surely you begin to let the new fade and find yourself back in the familiar.

You will better understand when Paul says in Romans 7:15, "I do not understand what I do. For what I do, I do not do, but what I hate I do." He continues in verse 24, "What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?"

Do Paul's words sound familiar? "Why do I keep repeating these same habits? Why can I not just do the good, healthy things? I hate when I fall back into those same traps! And I hate myself when I do. I just don't want to even try anymore because I always fail at it anyway!"

Just when your situation looks hopeless and right before you throw in the towel, let's take a look at what Paul says next in verse 25, "Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!" Paul is reminding us that we are identified in the resurrection of Jesus, meaning we are overcomers of anything or anyone that would try and hold us down to prevent our growth in him. Life is equated to growth.

Until that "new" is formed into a habit where you catch yourself engaged with it without even thinking, you'll need to remind yourself consistently of what is true so you can press forward, despite slip-ups. This is the progression we see Jesus doing in scripture to nurture his growth and why he was able to remain perfectly consistent:

Truth

Believe/Trust

Behave

Emotions

He studied and meditated on the truths of who his Father really is, he believed those truths and his actions were a natural result of where his mindset was, despite how he was feeling. And he trusted and followed his Father's goodness, perfectly. But it doesn't end there.

God has given us the life of His Son. He has also given us the gift of the Holy Spirit to point us to God's never-changing character and his truths to deliver us day by day so we may grow spiritually, mentally/emotionally and physically (speech/actions).

You don't need "more" motivation. You have the perfect, never-ending Motivator in you already. He will continue to prompt you. The motivation might come in undesirable ways, however. A persistent problem, a nagging thought... all to capture your attention in order to magnify what is good and freeing. You don't need "more" patience or "more" faith to do the good, healthy things. Jesus said, "It is finished," because he completed what we needed to live in true freedom. He would not have been able to make such a bold claim if "more" was still needed.

You have ALL of him and ALL you need to rise above. You are complete in him. Nothing "more" is needed. And when you believe he is your all sufficiency, your mind and emotions will catch on. Before you know it, you will genuinely be "rockin' it" physically with your speech and actions that are now in line with what is actually true.

Life is too short to not intentionally nurture what he has given us.