GROWTH TRACKERS (1)
Bible Reading: Mark 12: 30-31
Memory Verse: He answered, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind. And you must love your neighbor as yourself.” Luke 10:27 (ISV)
Say: I choose to be a Christian, and not just a Church goer. However, there should be some parameters to indicate if we are growing in the Lord. You should be able to evaluate your growth in the Lord. These are what I refer to as Growth Trackers. These include:
1. Your love for God: How much do you really love Jesus? If after many years in the faith, there are things you cannot surrender to Jesus, then, perhaps you are not absolutely surrendered and you don’t sincerely love Jesus. The Christians of Old said, “Anything Lord” to the wish of their heavenly father immediately they got born again. They were willing to do and go the extra length for the kingdom. Are you still keeping old sinful friends, masturbating or lying? Repent and be restored (Luke 10:27).
2. Your level of brokenness: This means your attitude towards sin primarily. How do you feel when you fall into sin? Like David or like Judas? Are you repentant or remorseful? Do you confess and retrace your steps, or you are too proud to face it? A broken vessel will immediately repent and be restored. Brokenness also has to do with your attitude towards correction. Many are bold enough to reply their Pastors, parents and teachers when corrected. Brokenness is a state of the heart. Are you broken? (Psalm 51:17).
3. Your relationship with the Holy Spirit: After donkey years of christian living, are you baptised with the Holy Ghost with the gift of speaking in tongues? How often do you charge up your spirit by praying in tongues for long hours? When last did the Holy Spirit minister to you? When last did the Holy Spirit speak to you specifically about a pressing issue? You must develop a growing relationship with the Holy Spirit (John 14:26).
4. Your hatred for sin, self and Satan: Are you comfortable with petty lies, stealing, or boasting? How do you feel when you perceive someone or something is standing between you and God? You must hate sin and every evil weight with utmost hatred. What Satan may not achieve in your life, self (flesh/Old nature) may achieve it successfully. Don’t only conquer sin. Conquer Mr. Self (Galatians 5:24).
Quote: Spiritual growth must first be downwards then upwards.
Prophetic Decree: May your eyes of understanding open to everything frustrating your spiritual growth, in Jesus name.
Prayer Focus
1. Let the axe of the Lord fall upon everything frustrating my spiritual growth in Jesus name.
2. Holy Spirit, please deliver me from spiritual malnutrition, in Jesus name.
3. Today, I command a spiritual obituary to every works of sin, self and Satan in my life, in Jesus name.
4. I receive grace to be intimately connected to the Holy Spirit, in Jesus name.
5. O Lord, help me to lavish my love on you increasingly in Jesus name.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Matthew 14, Mark 6, Luke 9