Review your answers. Ask the Holy Spirit, “Do I need You to adjust my priorities? Has something become an idol in my life? Is there anything that I’m chasing more than You?” What is He saying? What steps is He prompting you to take to redirect your allegiance to Him?

Meditate on God’s words in Matthew 6:19-21 and Colossians 3:1-17. Use them to write a prayer of dedication asking the Holy Spirit to keep you loyal to the Lord your God.

Day 3 Devo

GROW GRADUALLY BY HIS GRACE

We are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him.

—2 Corinthians 3:18 The Message

Just before He went to the cross, Jesus made a key statement about the Holy Spirit: “I still have many things to tell you, but you can’t handle them now. But when the Friend comes, the Spirit of the Truth, he will take you by the hand and guide you into all the truth…” (John 16:12-13 The Message).

As the All-knowing One, Jesus could have shared many truths with His disciples, but He knew they couldn’t understand them yet. They needed time to grow. Once He died, rose again, and ascended into heaven, the Father sent His Spirit to help us grow gradually by His grace.

Would a good parent expect their newborn to understand multiplication? Or their toddler to know how to prepare taxes? No. Similarly, the Holy Spirit waits until we are mature enough to handle the truth He needs to tell us. He not only leads us into all truth about Scripture, He also leads us into truth about ourselves, our children, our health, our circumstances, and more.

According to God’s Word, we grow (become like Jesus) from one level of faith and glory to another.3 We have a part in this process, and so does the Holy Spirit. Carefully meditate on Philippians 1:6; 2:12-13; 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 and Hebrews 13:20-21. What is the Spirit revealing to you in these verses about growing in Christ? Do you see a repeated theme?

England’s best-known preacher during the latter nineteenth century, Charles H. Spurgeon, wrote prolifically on many topics, including the Holy Spirit and growing up spiritually. He said:

“We trust in Jesus for what we cannot do ourselves. If it were in our own power, why would we need to look to Him? It is ours to believe; it is the Lord’s [the Holy Spirit] to create us anew. He will not believe for us; neither are we to do regenerating work for Him. It is enough for us to obey the gracious command. It is for the Lord to work the new birth in us.”4

Don’t give into thinking, I should be more spiritually mature. It’s not true. It only makes you feel condemned and drains you of spiritual strength. Pause and pray, “Holy Spirit, how do You see where I am right now (my level of spiritual maturity)?” What is He saying to you?