Grow Forward!

Growing people energize me.
 
There is nothing more refreshing or uplifting than talking with someone who is growing in their personal life.
 
I have the privilege, honor, joy and sacred responsibility of helping hurting people find healing, restoration and renewal through God’s love in Jesus Christ. My ministry’s emphasis is renewing purpose and restoring joy.
 
The restoration process is based on biblical truth and principles that God has established so you, me, and others can heal our hurts and restore our lives. I thank God every day for the opportunities I have to see lives changed in powerful ways.
 
A major key to healthy, triumphant and joyful turnarounds in life is going and growing forward. 
 
If I could shout it from the very tip-top of Mt. Everest, I would tell this spiritually and emotionally growth-stunted world to GROW UP and GROW FORWARD!
 
Many people miss so much good in life because they remain stuck in non-growth ruts. Mired in the muck of yesterday, they have no idea how good it is on the other side of the past. Yesterday’s failures steal the possibilities of tomorrow’s success.
 
The Bible tells us that Paul was a go forward and grow forward guy! God’s goodness and grace had radically revolutionized his life (I Corinthians 15:9-10). Writing to the Christians in Philippi, in the shadow of an executioner’s sword, he shared with his brothers and sisters in Christ the pivotal decision he made to grow forward.   
 
“But one thing I do, forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal of the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 3:13-14
 
His decision to grow forward was based on three things.
 
First, he did “one thing”.  ONE THING! A single, strategic decision altered his entire life course. Paul focused his faith on forgetting yesterday and reaching for tomorrow.  
 
Second, Paul chose to forget the what was behind and to reach for what was ahead. He made a conscious, willful decision to look, go, and grow forward. The apostle of grace was determined to slam the door on the past and open new doors to the future.  
 
Third, Paul “pressed on”. A powerful word here that means he reached and grasped and lunged like an Olympic athlete that is running full speed to cross the finish line in a race. The runner’s goal is to hit the tape first and be declared the winner!
 
What was Paul “pressing on” for? Running in the faith race, Paul ran for the prize of prizes. The lofty goal of the high call of knowing, loving and serving the Lord Jesus Christ.
 
At the end of his earthly life, Paul wrote in II Timothy 4:7-8  “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith, In the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord , the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.”
 
Fighting a good fight, keeping the faith, finishing the course and receiving the crown of righteousness is all about growing up and growing forward.
 
Paul’s deepest aspiration was to “know Him” Philippians 3:10 reads “That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.”
 
 To know Him means to personally experience Christ, not just be informed about Him.  
 
Knowing Jesus will lead to growing in Him. The only way to grow in Christ is go grow forward. You see, Jesus is not dead in a grave, but resurrected and alive forever! The resurrection of Jesus Christ was the greatest go forward and grow forward event in time and eternity!  
 
My fellow Christian, going backwards is a downward call. Growing forward is always an upward call. Which call are you listening and responding to?
 
 Three Timely Tips For Growing Forward
 

1. Look ahead, not behind.

 
Focus on the future, not the past. We arrive at God’s destination by looking out the windshield of life, not in the rearview mirror. The familiarity and false security of yesterday will rob you of the fantastic opportunities of today and tomorrow.
 
Keep your head screwed on right. Refuse to look to the left, right, or back. You and I  never gain ground when we are walking backwards! Choose to look straight down the road. Growing forward people travel there and are waiting for you to join them.
 
 2. Be willing to s-t-r-e-t-c-h!
 
Allow the Holy Spirit to stretch you where you need stretched! We all have room to grow. Not everything is perfect in our lives! We know where we need to grow. So, let go and let God grow you up. People who stretch and grow forward are the ones who really enjoy God’s richest blessings in life.
 
S-t-r-e-t-c-h and be blessed!  
 
3. Reach for God’s very best.
 
Do you believe God has a wonderful plan for your life filled with abundant blessing? If you do, reach for His promises and grab hold of His plans to prosper you and make you successful in Christ. Be bold. Don’t hold back. Reach for the Lord’s best with the arm of faith.  
 
God’s very best awaits those who make the effort to go and grow forward.   
 
If you want to GO UP, GROW UP! If you want to get ahead, GROW FORWARD!
 
 “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.”  II Peter 3:18
 
A Word For Your Week:  Go forward by growing forward!