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As a church, we are on a journey of “Spiritual Formation”. That’s kind of like an
exercise program for your spirit. Many of you, like me, have gone through a fitness
program at a school or gym. We spent time learning the right exercises and how
to do them. We learned what to eat, how much and when. Some of us saw little
or no results. Then we discovered that if we put into practice what we learned for
enough time and with enough dedication that our bodies started to change. That’
s the way it is with Spiritual Formation.

First, we need to learn how to grow with God. We learn this through scripture, God’
s primary word to us. Other times we learn through a mentoring relationship with
others who are further along on their journey than we are, whether that is through
the written words of “spiritual giants” or personal relationships with mentors that
can hold us spiritually accountable. God also teaches us through His Holy Spirit
as we grow in relationship to Him.

Second, we need to put into practice consistently what we have learned. Sunday
morning is not the sum of our Christian walk. It is much easier to be Godly on
Sunday when everyone is watching, the songs lift your spirit and your Pastor and
Brothers and Sisters in Christ encourage you. It is much harder when a family
member doesn’t seem to care about you, when a coworker gives you a difficult
time, or when the things that mean the most to you seem to be out of your grasp.
Yet it is exactly those times that God speaks into our hearts about areas in our
lives that still need work. It is exactly those time when we can grow the most if we
will just submit to God. Catherine of Genoa – one of those Spiritual Giants – said,
“At times I have thought that my love was complete, but later, as my sight grew
clearer, I became aware that I had many imperfections. I did not recognize them
at first because God’s love for me has it planned that I will achieve it little by little
for the sake of preserving me and keeping me humble so as to be tolerable to
myself and others!” It is the times of difficult situations and conflict with others that
we can see our “imperfections” and the work that needs to be done.

Finally, God does bring the growth. We talked last Sunday about how farmers
plant the seeds. They may keep the seeds watered and fertilized, but ultimately
God causes the plant to grow. It is the same with our spiritual lives.

May God “grow” you this week.

Pastor Michelle