What Determines Speed of Spiritual Growth?

What do you think determines the speed of your own spiritual growth?

In large measure, the rate of that progress depends solely on you.  Your maturity is developed through your personal daily decisions! No one ever expects to be a successful athlete unless they practice their skills on a daily basis. In the same way, you can’t expect to grow spiritually unless you develop daily spiritual growth skills. The Bible says, “…discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness,” “…run with endurance the race that is set before us…” and “Run in such a way that you may win.” (1 Timothy 4:7, Hebrews 12:1, 1 Corinthians 9:24)

Any sins we cling to and continually think about are the unmistakable evidence of our current areas of need. Our thoughts reveal exactly where our affections actually lie. The Bible says, “As a man thinks within himself, so he is.” (Proverbs 23:7) The object of Christian discipleship is personal obedience to God, not just more knowledge about Him. Our goal is to apply what the Scriptures teach us about putting God’s kingdom needs ahead of our own. When the Lord Jesus spoke about this priority He said, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33) It is our love for God that inspires growing spiritual obedience. It produces mature Christian character . Jesus emphasized this fact when He proclaimed,“If you love Me, keep My commands.” (John 14:15) Our love for God is most dramatically revealed by one solitary attribute: our consistent daily passion to do His will.