A Birthday Card From Your Creator (A 7-Day Devotional) နမူနာ

YOU ARE MEANT TO GROW (EVEN IF GROWING IS HARD)!

You must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All glory to Him, both now and forever! Amen. - 2 Peter 3:18 (NLT)

I hope you are confident in the knowledge that you have been wonderfully made with unique gifts and that God loves you—right where you are in life—as you celebrate this birthday. And I also want you to know that, out of His great love for you, He wants to see you change and GROW this year.

God loves you just as you are, but He refuses to leave you that way. He wants you to be just like Jesus. - Max Lucado (from Just Like Jesus)

That’s right… God loves you just as you are in this very moment, but He also knows that leaving you here is not what is best for you. Like a tree, you are meant to GROW. And maturation only happens when roots dig down deep for nourishment, dead leaves fall away, and branches stretch up toward the sun.

Some of that process will be hard work. Growing pains are no joke! Physically, it can be rough on our bodies. Mentally and emotionally, it’s stressful. (Ask any teenager!) Spiritual development can be difficult, too, as we navigate the mountains and the valleys of our faith.

But there is a great reward for our growth…

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. - Romans 12:2 (NLT)

When we allow ourselves to mature and be transformed by God, then we will learn His will for us. (Wouldn’t that be amazing?!) As you draw closer to God—spending time with Him and exercising those amazing gifts He has given you—you will be able to more easily discern his plans and purposes for your one great life.

Reflect, Pray, and Celebrate Your Birthday!

Using the imagery of a tree, what is one way you want to grow to be more like Jesus this year?

Perhaps you need to be strengthened by digging down to give your roots more nourishment. That may look like spending more time reading the Bible to understand who God is and what He wants to say to you. Perhaps you will only progress by letting go of some “dead leaves” of sins or bad habits that are weighing you down so you can be transformed. Perhaps you could grow by figuratively (or physically) lifting your arms and looking up to Him in prayer and worship.

Write down how you want to grow this year. (Don't skip this. It’s not easy—this likely means taking the time to recognize one of your weaknesses that needs improvement.) Then, in prayer, take a moment to commit this to God and ask Him to TRANSFORM you by changing the way you approach this area of your life.