Dear Father,

How do I grow up spiritually?

Dear Child,

1. BY FEEDING AND CHEWING OVER THE MEAT OF THE WORD THAT YOU MAY LEARN DISCERNMENT.

Heb 5:13-14  For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Heb 6:1  Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.

Heb 4:12  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 

If you want to grow up and mature you must learn to discern between that which is done in the soulish realm and that which is done in the spirit. You can only learn this by meditating and feasting on the meat of the Word. You must invest the time to wean yourselves of milk and unto the meat which takes more time and meditation to chew over than milk which can more easily be swallowed and digested than meat. 

2. BY BEING OBEDIENT .

1 Sam 15:22  And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. John 14:15  If ye love me, keep my commandments

I want a child who chooses to spend time with Me. I could have programmed you to obey and love Me, but this would not bring Me glory. Such obedience would have no spiritual value. There would be no fault or sin, yet neither would there be holiness, for obedience would be passive. I do not want automation. I want a child with a free will who will choose to love and obey Me.

3. BY BEING “BIG PICTURE” MINDED, THAT IS, BY SEEING THINGS IN THE LIGHT OF ETERNITY.

James 5:7-8  Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

Rom 8:18  For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

You are living in a culture where you demand everything NOW, you have forgotten how to delay instant gratification for your better good long term. You need to bring your soulish impulses under subjection of My Holy Spirit who not only knows your future but also holds your future. Impatience belongs to childishness not necessarily childlikeness. I have a lot of impatient childish adults in My Body, when I am looking for patient adult children.

4. BY NOT TAKING OFFENSE.

Psalm 119:165  Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.

Luke 17:1-4  Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him. 

Offenses not forgiven will be stored in the heart and will hold you captive as chains that tighten with each unforgiven offense. They will either be a trap and stunt grow or they will be an opportunity to freedom and maturity. How can you learn to forgive if you never have the opportunity to forgive? How can you be conformed to My Image without learning to forgive?

5. BY SERVING OTHERS.

Mat 23:11-12  But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

Breathe in My presence, that you might be refreshed and then refresh others, by washing their feet and refreshing them for their journey through life. Speak only words that will build up and be an encouragement. Continue to lead others on the path that leads to eternal life. Help the wounded that they in turn may help others who have fallen on the road.

Lead, lead the way by being a servant. Greatness in My kingdom doesn’t come from being served but by serving. In serving you are investing in My kingdom. That investment no man can steal from you, it is safe in My hands. 

6. BY ABIDING IN ME THAT YOU MAY MATURE TO THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT.

John 15:4  Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

Abiding in Me is abiding in the Word for I am the Word, and if you do not abide in the Word, you can do nothing. Abiding is living with, you must live with and by the Word. Abiding is not just visiting BUT living with continually.

Abiding in Me is abiding in My Body. You can’t stay connected to the Head unless you are in the Body. Parts of the Body cannot operate in the Spirit apart from the Head. 

Abiding in Me is talking with Me. If you live and abide with Me you will converse with Me.

Without these you are not abiding, you are only occasionally visiting.

7. LAST BUT NOT LEAST, BY SPENDING TIME ALONE WITH ME AND BEING LED BY MY SPIRIT.

Rev 3:20  Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

Rom 8:14  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

That is the hidden Manna of your heart! Your secret history is that path I walk with you that nobody else knows of, that secret history is time spent with the one who knows you the best and loves you the most. Only I know all the motivation of your heart and thoughts, only you and I know your innermost being. Your history and communications with me, will be the path we can share, as I alone can deal with those motivations that are not of my Spirit, and daily transform you into My likeness as we spend time together.

                                                           Thus saith Papa   

CHALLENGE: Is your spiritual life only in survival mode? 

                    Which of the above areas have you neglected the most, resulting in stunted 

                     growth in some of your spiritual root structure?

My book “Developing a Secret History with God” will inspire and help you as you develop your root structure. See Amazon/Barnes & Noble