Reserve the Right to Grow

Everybody needs room to grow.  There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered.  ― Nelson Mandela 

Yesterday we talked about how emotional pain can affect all of our relationships unless we admit our problems and allow God to heal them. God wants us to heal and grow! We have to start to examine ourselves and talk about our problems. Acknowledge the elephant in the room and agree with the other people involved that it’s time for the elephant to leave the room.  For example, Joseph finally talked to his brothers about their elephant—how they tried to kill him and then sold him into slavery. The family was...
at Joseph’s mercy and he could have exacted revenge, but he forgave them and admitted it was a blessing, all a part of God’s greater plan. Like Joseph, we must humble ourselves before God and learn to value others above ourselves. Only then will we begin to heal and grow. This is the growth that God wants to see in our lives and relationships. This can start by having a mentor, taking part in a LifeGroup, seeking out other healthy people to spend time with and even reading books by Christians about how to achieve healthy relationships. These may seem simple, but they are ways we can grow tremendously and when we recognize that God wants us to be healthy and have solid relationships, we can receive the power we need to grow through Him. We can acknowledge our pain and begin to heal.

READ and THINK… What does the Bible say?

1. In this letter to the Ephesians, Paul is giving instructions and reminders of how we should treat one another and what makes it possible to cultivate healthy relationships.

Question: Why do you think Paul’s instructions were the same to different churches? 

Ephesians 4:2-3 (New International Version)

² Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. ³ Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

Answer: 

2. Again, Paul encouraged the church at Colossi in the same way. In accepting Jesus, we are to be His living example.

Question: Why are these instructions so important?

Colossians 2:6 (New Living Translation)

And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him.

Answer: 

3. This next verse is really the key to changing our behavior. Before Paul gives us the instruction of what to do in Philippians 2, here he explains how those changes can be accomplished. 

Question: How can we find the strength to make these changes when they can be so painful and difficult? 

Philippians 2:13 (New Living Translation)

For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

Answer:

LIVE… What will you do now?

What is the elephant in your room? Are you willing to ask it to leave? What is the next step you could take to escort it out the door?

How can you find the strength to broach the subject with the people involved?

How would growing past these hurts change your relationships with those people? In what ways would it change your life?

PRAY… God, what do you want me to know and do?

Thank God for Jesus, sent not only as your salvation but also as your example on how to live. Ask Him to give you the strength you need to implement changes, heal and grow.