3 Ways to GROW this year.

Want to have the best year spiritually? Do you want to experience unprecedented growth and fruitfulness?

Did you know that the Spirit enables us to grow when we not only do the right things (obey) but we avoid doing the wrong things. (saying NO to what is forbidden.)

Here are three attitudes/actions that will help you as you seek to grow as a Christian woman this year.

In order to grow and thrive, you’ll need to be:

Submissive vs. Self Willed. This seems obvious, but sometimes we forget. A submissive spirit doesn’t have a will of it’s own, but places itself under the will of another. A “servant” mindset follows where God leads, serves as God provides opportunity, and says “Yes, Lord” when the Spirit tells you that something needs to change and go. A self-willed Christian has her own agenda. A self-willed Christian is an oxymoron–Jesus is Lord of our life or He is not. Whenever you demand your rights, resist serving in a “lowly” capacity, or seek to strong arm positions of leadership and authority for yourself, you’re headed the wrong way. Choose submission.

Side note: one of the best ways to know where you are not submissive is to ask yourself, “What am I hiding from people? What don’t I want them to know I am doing?” We usually try to cover up our sin and since we all have a conscience, we know what we are doing is wrong. For instance, your child sitting in the corner hiding the fact that they are eating cookies before dinner. Or the woman who is flirting with a married man who goes out of her way to run into him and lies about bumping into him yet again. Or the teen who is texting inappropriate things, so they hide their phone so nobody knows. WE know the right things to do–the question is—will we do them or not? Will we submit to God’s ways or go our own?

Teachable vs. Stubborn.  Obeying God’s Word is not optional. Have you ever known the right thing to do and chose to do the exact opposite? I have. Obviously, choosing God’s way is much more conducive to Christian growth. A teachable woman is pliable and will change behavior and attitudes to please and obey the Lord.

The opposite is not a pretty sight. Have you ever seen a “stiff necked” person who literally looks as straight and stiff and unmovable that it oozed out of her persona? A “stiff necked” people resists changing when God prompts. (rebellious because their heart is bent on something else.) A teachable woman puts self aside and embraces the path of holiness that God ordained for her.

Led vs Leading.

Even in you are in a position of leadership somewhere: the home, the work place, or church, you are never really leading. As Christian women, we are to be professional followers of Christ.

We want to make sure we allow the Holy Spirit to lead us. We never want to take the “bull by the horns” and run our own little show because the Bible teaches that we should be led by God.

I’ve seen this over and over again and it never ends pretty. A woman domineers. She insists on her own way. The people who usually speak into her life know that trying to speak reason to her is pretty much futile, so they let her learn the hard way.

If you are in ministry, this is the surest way to ruin your effectiveness because God’s not on board with your agenda. He’s got His own.

If you are led by the Spirit, your interactions will be peaceful and peace-filled because all of that icky flesh stuff is not lurking underneath. You’ll have opportunities that come to you and you’ll know they were God given. You’ll have people to serve and you’ll know that God sent them or brought them to mind. You won’t have to try to orchestrate your own parade because the Lord has already gone before you.

These three traits will give you the mindset that allows you to see God as Sovereign in all things, to submit to His Word and will, and to put your eyes on Him as you walk through this life.

How about you? Are you struggling with any of these attitudes or actions? What do you need to do to re-calibrate and get on the right course?