New, new, new!  We all like new clothes, new furniture, new babies, new friends—how about new thoughts?  New ideas?  New opportunities?  Whoa, some of you say—stop there.  “I don’t like the new that would put me into growing situations. " But God loves to stretch us, grow us and challenge us!  That’s where life is, and God is in to life.
 
God certainly has been challenging me with the concept of growth.  One definition of growth is progressive development.  If we are not progressing, then as much as I dislike the thought, we are regressing.  Every plant that ceases to grow is DEAD!  If you have prayed, “Lord, use me,” you have given him permission to put you into a bigger pot so that you can grow.  Darryl re-potted some of our houseplants the other day.  They had started to look a bit anemic and their growth had slowed.  He knew that they needed more room in which to receive the nutrients to continue growing.  Many times when we seem to be anemic or tired God will say, it’s time to have a bigger pot!  My flesh goes, no, I need a smaller pot, there are too many things to do already.  But, trust him, my friends.  He knows what type of fruit he needs to produce from your life so that the kingdom will be furnished with every good thing.  He also knows that as you grow, His body will grow. Under his direction, the whole body is fitted together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.  Ephesians 4:16 New Living Translation    If we live in such a way that hinders our growth, we also hinder the body of Christ.  That is a sobering thought.
 
So what kinds of things hinder our growth?
 
Obstacles to growth:

Ignorance:  We don’t have the seeds in our lives to produce the fruit we desire.  We simply don’t have enough information to know how to do something.  There is a simple fix.  Make a decision to set yourself to be a learner.  Go to the library; interview someone who has the information, even take a class.   Often pride keeps us from attempting new things.  Seek the Lord for His wisdom.  As we “mature” in age pride often keeps us from admitting we don’t know something.  Let it go, learning keeps you young!

Fear of Failure:  Do you find yourself hesitant to ask the Lord to use you?  Afraid He will give you more than you can handle?  We know that the scripture assures us that that He will never do. If you find yourself afraid to grow or increase in an area, set yourself to grow in the understanding that For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7 This is one of those scriptures that is used to counsel others, but can slide away from us when we need it!  This is another area where pride can keep us bound.  We must renew our mind to the point where we understand that the grace of God covers our learning experiences.  He knows when and how many mistakes we will need to make before we “get it right”.  He has made provision for the falling down, but no provision is made for the not trying.

Fear of the unknown:  What will it be like?  How can I ever get there?  So many people yearn to cross over into new territories, but struggle with the “how do I do it?”  I believe the Holy Spirit knows how to get us there. You will show me the path of life;  In Your presence is fullness of joy;  At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11  Ask and it shall be open unto you. Matthew 7:7  This is His promise.  Moses prayed, “And He said,“My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Then he said to Him, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here. Exodus 33:14-15

Poor self confidence:  When we look to ourselves, rather than to God and His promises, we tend to focus on our disabilities, rather than on His abilities. Know that the LORD, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; Psalm 100:3  He has made you for such a time as this.  He knows your age, your season of life (single, newly-wed, young children, teen-agers, empty-nest or widow), your health, your spiritual maturity and your callings and giftings.  How He longs to cause us to stand firm on the rock of His Word believing that He is our confidence, He is our strength and we do not have to consider all the details, simply obey His leading. Past failures can loom large when we look at moving ahead, the devil is usually quick to remind us of other times we have stepped out and fallen on our face.  Or perhaps he still holds you hostage to a past sin or failure and taunts you with “God could never really use you because look where you have failed.”  My dear sister, let’s remember Peter who denied the Lord, or Paul who succeeded in having Christians persecuted and killed!  God still chose them to fulfill their calling. It is important to really comprehend the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Do you quickly find yourself standing on the truth of His Word when those thoughts come into your mind?  Or do you spend time wondering if there is some truth to his lies?  I would encourage you to spend more time studying and meditating on the armor of God, the grace of our God and our position in Christ.  We enhance His kingdom when we comfortably use the authority He has bestowed upon us. It is by His grace that we are saved and it is through the knowledge of our Savior and His character that we can believe that what He says is truth.
 
Take an assessment
What areas of your life do you feel the most capable?  Where you feel you produce rich, ripe mature fruit?  Those probably are the areas in which you have taken the time to invest.  Studying, practicing, praying and working toward a good harvest.  Perhaps these are the areas where you are called and may even include natural giftings.  But in your assessment, do you find other areas where you are a bit more stunted?  

Several years ago I was desperately seeking God.  I knew that there needed to be something added to my walk with Him, but I could not “figure out” what it was that I lacked.  I prayed and prayed.  Finally, through His mercy and grace, I realized that in all my knowing about Jesus, His Word and Ministry, I was lacking knowledge and revelation in the area of Grace!  The Word is full of Grace and I had never heard a message on it, never did a study on it—it was simply a Christian term that was defined as “God’s unmerited favor”.  I really couldn’t have told you what even the definition meant in an experiential way to my life.  It was simply a “truth”.

Through a series of circumstances, we were given a series of tapes that a pastor in Medford shared with his congregation and I listened to those tapes and a whole missing piece of the foundation of my faith finally got laid.   It was an awesome; life giving area of my life that needed desperately to grow in my garden—but I didn’t have the seeds sown properly in order for me to produce them for others.
 
I needed to definitely “grow in grace”.  How about other areas?   Marriage and Parenting skills, financial wisdom, administration gifts, upgrading my teaching skills, learning how to communicate more effectively are all areas in which I have been continually challenged to grow.  Many of you consider yourself “technologically” challenged—this can be a hindrance to future ministry.  My challenge to you, ask the Lord if he would have you overcome this obstacle and press ahead to learn about computers and the internet.  We can ask Him to teach us, after all that is one of the Holy Spirit’s job,
 
I believe this is the season that God is growing up his children.  It is time we stop dallying even in our minds with the feelings “I don’t want to grow up”,  Each of you have set your foot on the race track, please keep moving.  We need you to run the race you have been given with all grace, wisdom and strength.  Be of good cheer, when we hit the finish line, how wonderful it will be to hear “well done, my good and faithful daughter.”
     
Written by:Martha Rodman