Growing Beyond Stagnation
Written by Rev. Dr. Scott Paczkowski
“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”
Stagnation is a slow death. Likewise, a stagnating faith is a slow death of our life. It does not mean we must make risky decisions, but we need to keep moving forward, deepening our faith, and challenging ourselves. Learning, exercise, and spiritual disciplines continue throughout life. As Harvard Psychologist Dr. Daniel Gilbert points out, “Human beings are works in progress that mistakenly think they are finished.” If we have breath in this world, we are called by God to keep growing.
The engaging writer Thomas Oppong writes in his article, “A Commitment to a Life of Growth Is How You Become Better Version of Yourself,” affirms a quote by Charles T. Munger, “Spend each day trying to be a little wiser than you were when you woke up.” We do this by defining our vision, confirming our goals, and setting the routines that make our goals and visions a reality.
Growth in this life requires commitment, but it doesn’t mean we must overwork ourselves, ignoring other obligations, such as family. Reading a passage from the Bible, devotion, and then prayer can take less than fifteen minutes. Even the busiest person can afford fifteen minutes. Taking even fifteen to thirty minutes a day for exercise can make a huge difference in our physical energy, emotional maturity, and physical strength. When we make these two commitments lasting less than an hour, we transform our body, mind, and faith.
Today, remember Ralph Waldo Emerson’s famous quote, “Treat yourself as you are, and you will remain as you are. Treat yourself as you could be, and you will become what you should be.” We act on the belief that God has a plan for our lives by trusting that when we work on ourselves and our faith, God will respond with nurture and support. Start small, just minutes a day. As you grow, you will hunger for more time with God and strengthen yourself. Your commitment and God’s care will continually enhance life.
