Spiritual growth is not something that happens automatically. Growth requires commitment, discipline, and a willingness to be renewed day by day. The apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 4:16 said, “Our inner self is being renewed day by day.” This shows that spiritual renewal is not an occasional event but a life rhythm that continues without stopping. God does not want us to become stagnant Christians; He wants us to keep moving forward, leaving the old self behind and putting on the new self (Colossians 3:10).
However, many believers stop growing after their initial conversion. They feel they have already done enough because they go to church regularly, join ministries, or participate in various spiritual activities. But spiritual activity is not the same as spiritual growth. Spiritual growth happens when the heart continues to be shaped, the mind continues to be renewed, and character continues to be transformed.
Spiritual growth requires a willingness to be shaped. Like clay in the potter’s hands (Jeremiah 18), growth begins when we open ourselves to be touched, shaped, and even crushed by the hands of God. A hard heart, self-righteousness, or a sense of sufficiency are the biggest obstacles to spiritual renewal. Commitment to grow means having the humility to say, “Lord, shape me according to Your will,” not according to the standards of the world, not according to the desires of the flesh, but according to God’s perfect design.
In addition, spiritual growth requires spiritual discipline. No Christian grows without the Word, prayer, fellowship, and obedience. The Word of God is the spiritual food that nourishes our inner being. Prayer is the breath of spiritual life that connects us to the source of strength. Fellowship is the place where we are taught, corrected, and strengthened. Obedience is the visible expression of our growth. Without these disciplines, spiritual growth becomes stagnant.
One of the biggest challenges to spiritual growth is busyness. The modern world often leaves many believers consumed with work, school, ministry, family matters, and social media. Spiritual life usually becomes the last priority. Many people want to grow, but they do not make time for God. Spiritual growth requires the commitment to create space for God to work in our lives. There is no renewal without quality time with the Lord.
Growth also requires process. Not all change happens at once. Some areas of our lives God restores quickly, but others He shapes gradually. Sometimes we become frustrated when we see parts of our lives that have not yet changed. However, spiritual growth is not a sprint — it is a long marathon. God works in His patience and steadfast love; our task is to make ourselves available in that process continually.
A mindset change also marks spiritual growth. Romans 12:2 emphasizes that transformation happens through the renewal of the mind. When the Word renews our minds, our way of viewing life, making decisions, facing pressure, and responding to others also changes. The renewal of the mind produces transformed character. Therefore, commitment to grow means we are willing to let go of old patterns of thinking — worldly, selfish, and reactive — and replace them with the mind of Christ.
Another mark of growth is maturity in facing struggles. A growing person is not someone whose life is free of problems, but someone who sees problems as tools of God’s formation. Life’s difficulties are not obstacles to growth; they are often God’s most incredible instrument of development. Through struggles, God exposes wrong motives, teaches us perseverance, deepens our faith, and shapes Christlike character.
In the end, commitment to grow means we are not satisfied with our current spiritual condition. We continually pursue Christlikeness. The questions we need to reflect on are: Is my life becoming more like Christ day by day? Am I making time for the Word and prayer? Am I open to correction and shaping from God? Do I view struggles as part of God’s formation? May today be a moment to renew our commitment. Amen.