There are many things in life I wish I could freeze-frame: hearing my 5-year-old boy say I’m the best mom in the world while he buries his head in my shoulder; listening to the untainted voice of my daughter praying at night; gazing at the hopeful look in my husband’s eye as he tucks me into bed Christmas Eve; praying on our knees for strength and courage with our high school girls group. These things, oh, how I wish I could freeze-frame!

While there are some things we don’t really want to see change, I, for one, don’t want to stop time when it comes to my spiritual life. I want to grow. This year, I want my roots to grow deeper and my trunk, stronger (yes, I’m doing a lot of core exercises these days but I’m not talking about that! 🙂 What I’m saying is this: in my walk with God, I don’t want to freeze-frame. I want to move forward; I want to grow.

Growth, like surrender, faith, and perseverence, is a choice. It is a choice to get up early and look into the Word; to get up from our desk chairs and get on our knees; to willingly cooperate with the transformative process God desires to do in each one of us. It’s a choice not to turn to alcohol, men, the mirror or money to somehow validate us and make us feel better about ourselves.

Choosing to grow means obedience to His call on our lives, surrender to His direction, even when it’s uncomfortable; and finally, it means being willing to do the work. Our pastor said something so funny the other day: he said it drives him nuts when people say they left a church because "they weren’t being fed there." "Get up out of your spiritual highchair and feed yourself!" He scoffed. I love real talk in church! It’s true.

The most powerful way we can grow is through our personal study of the Word. It is the single most essential tool in our growth. It is the Living Water that nourishes our roots. But it doesn’t infiltrate the brain while you watch TV or play on Facebook! It takes a choice … to pick up that Bible, open it, and see all that you could be if you were rooted and established in His love above all else. My prediction: you could be better, stronger and bear the fruit you so desire — peace, patience, kindness, goodness, self-control …. oh, I’ll let you look it up! (Ps 1:1-3 … Eph 3:17 … Gal 5:22)

This year, I hope alongside me, you’ll make the choice to grow. Next year at this time, my hope is that we will all be stronger, wiser, and more deeply rooted in the love God has for us. For His love is the essense of our power, the source of our courage, and the fullness of our beauty.

In devotion to you,
Jen