CHRONICLES OF SPIRITUAL GROWTH 1

My spiritual growth leapt in my second year at the University. Even though I had given my life to Christ way earlier as a teenager, I still was on a plateau. I was more religious. I only followed the routine. There were no sparks or vibes in my walk with God. It was just boring.

One evening, I was visiting with a senior colleague of mine and he gave me a tape. It brought a revolution to my prayer life. I listened to it again and again. It was as if a well that was locked up within me was opened up.

There is an environment where the seed must be for the seed to grow. There is a ground the seed must be for the seed to thrive. If you will grow, the environment must be right. Some things suffocate growth.

Get away from the wayside- things that cause distractions. Things that turn the Word of the Lord into meaningless jokes. Runaway from rocks. Run from thorns. Do not get comfortable in places and with things that do not give room for the seed of the Lord within you to grow.

You cannot love the Word of God if you keep company with those who talk down the instructions of the scriptures. You cannot grow in prayer if you settle with those who talk down on prayer in subtle ways.

The Word is needed for your growth.

Apostle Peter told us to deal with the things that hinder growth by going after the Word that provokes growth:

Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, as newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby… 1 Peter 2:1‭-‬2 KJV

Most of the things that Apostle Peter mentioned can be transferred by relationships- malice, hypocrisy, envy, and evil-speaking.

If you will grow, you must watch the company that you keep. You must watch what such company brings or introduces into your life also.

One of the testimonies of God about Saul (who became Apostle Paul) right after his conversion was that “He prays”.

And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,
Acts 9:11 KJV

And if you grow in prayer, your spiritual experiences and growth will enter into fresh dimensions. Saul entered into the realm of visions by praying.

…and hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.
Acts 9:12 KJV

If you will grow, watch your company, love the Word of God, and study the Word. Without it, there is no growth.

temilOluwa Ola, Eruwa