Did I Even Grow This Year?

The New Year seems to be the fresh start we use to establish goals. And often, we take time to reflect on the past year, perhaps the goals we did or didn’t reach.

And spiritually, does anyone else ever wonder, though I spend day after day in the Word am I changed? I learn, but is it visible in my life? Have I grown spiritually?

How do we measure our spiritual growth?

“the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and self-control.” Gal. 5:22-23

Isn’t the center of every goal of the Christian to become more like Christ? Sanctification. A work of God.  And I wonder if there is greater evidence of God at work, present, in our life, then the fruit of the Holy Spirit?

So I take time to meditate on the words. How have I learned them? How have I lived them?

I see this past year how my understanding of love has changed. The importance of it and the place it has in everything. And joy. My life is more characterized by joy. A steady, happy heart. Peace. Less flustered by surprise or disappointment. Self-control. Habits created to protect my thoughts, time spent more purposefully.

Maybe the best way to measure our spiritual successes from the year past is to answer honestly how the fruit of the Spirit was visible in my life? Not to pat ourselves on the back, but to praise God for His work in us.

And maybe the best way to set new goals for the New Year is to be reminded how each one of these fruits could still be more present.

I want to respond with meekness when I am hurt, take the hit a little softer, with less mental retaliation. To be characterized by goodness. To have a greater faith in the unknown, in the small things.

I want more love, more joy, more peace. I want more of Christ. To know more of Him and for more of Him to be seen in me.

I don’t want to get caught up in the goals I set, but to be consumed with the Person of Christ and allow Him to have His way in me. I want a life characterized by the fruit of His presence.

Maybe take some time and look for ways Christ showed up in 2017, and how His life has impacted your life. Be encouraged as you discover how the fruit of the Spirit has budded in your life, and be inspired to keep letting Him has His way in you as we begin 2018.

More of Him, less of me.