ARE YOU GROWING?
07th Oct 2026
In the early chapters of Luke’s Gospel, Luke recounts the births of John the Baptist and Jesus. In Luke 1:80, it says of John, “he grew and became strong in spirit.” In Luke 2:52 it says of Jesus, “He grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and men.”
In 2 Peter 3:18, we are commanded to “Grow in the grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”
Growth is amazing, supernatural! In our garden, we are watching new grass germinate and spring up. I have an orchid plant which is growing a new flower stalk. We are watching two of our great-grandchildren, of similar age, develop and grow, constantly extending their boundaries as they climb and ride bikes and scooters. We receive a stream of pictures and videos showing us their progress, which is a joy and a source of great excitement.
So, are you growing? What conditions promote growth? What stunts it? Jesus is described as growing in favour with God and man, and the grace of God being on Him. I want to see growth, particularly in my spirit. Watching our grass wither this summer and almost die from lack of water was not a pleasant experience.
What do we need for spiritual growth? We need to stay connected with Father God by talking and listening to Him. We need spiritual nourishment through His Word and fellowship with other believers. We need spiritual stimulation through hearing testimonies of how other believers have grown and seen God work in their lives.
We need a constant infilling with the Holy Spirit and a desire and willingness to change. Yesterday we received this message from a friend -
“He holds the galaxies, yet notices when your heart trembles. The same hands that named every star also caught every tear. Majesty and mercy in one heartbeat - that’s the God you belong to.”
As I thought about this, I became very aware of the privilege of my relationship as a child of God and felt God speak, not only about enjoying this, but about being thankful for and aware of His constant love and care that stimulates growth.
by Joyce Sibthorpe
