“For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God.” Hebrews 5:12.

Spiritual growth and maturity do not happen automatically. Those who have children know infants and kids would not grow to adulthood automatically. We parents feed them, give them proper sleep, protect them from bad weather and dangerous conditions. Parents have a plan to make their young ones grow and mature.

The same way your spiritual growth also needs a plan. We come across believers who believed in Jesus Christ many years ago. However, still, we know they have not grown to spiritual maturity. Bible says in 1 Peter 2:2 says, ”As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby”. Newborn babes craving form milk is so severe that they cry without stopping until she or he get the breastfeeding. Bible says the same you who are newly born into God’s family by accepting Jesus as your savior and Lord, should desire the word of God which is the Bible. A newborn Christian must have the craving to listen to the Bible and Bible messages. What is the result? That you may grow thereby. There is no other way to grow if you are a newborn Christian. You need to listen and study the Word of God.

Therefore, the number one plan is craving to study the Word of God. It would gradually result in your spiritual growth and maturity.

Now, the Holy Spirit is the agent who causes you to grow spiritually. In addition to the Word of God, the Holy Spirit of God uses those scriptures you learned to grow in Christ. The indwelling Holy Spirit who is inside the believer of Jesus Christ, reminds, teaches, guides, comforts, helps them to grow in the Lord. The whole triune God-Father, Son and the Holy Spirit are instrumental in your spiritual growth. However, the Bible also indicates the Holy Spirit plays a major role in spiritual growth.

Therefore, by understanding the cardinal role of the Holy Spirit, the Bible says a believer yields himself or herself to the Holy Spirit. This is another reason for the absence of spiritual growth and maturity. A Christian who is not willing to yield to the Holy Spirit would not grow spiritually as intended by God. Yielding to the Holy Spirit means to walk with the Holy Spirit. We can walk by the flesh and walk by the spirit. It is our choice whom we are going to yield- flesh or the Holy Spirit living inside us. This is a choice we should make each time a choice is presented to us. Yield to the Holy Spirit and do not yield to the flesh.

Hence ask two important questions: Am I desirous to study the Word of God? Am I yielded to the Holy Spirit? Many people are not serious in good Bible studies. If you are not serious about the quality of the Bible study, then do not expect spiritual growth happens automatically. Similarly, if you fail in yielding to the Holy Spirit spiritual growth is hindered.

Thirdly, spiritual growth takes time. A new Christian is not spiritually matured nor developed simply because of the absence of a pretty good knowledge of the word of God and the opportunity to yield to the Holy Spirit. As both of these emerges in due time, spiritual growth and maturity happen. The time taken for spiritual maturity is not the same for everybody. A person who studies the Word of God intensively and willing to yield to the Holy Spirit would achieve growth in a shorter time span.

Spiritual growth is also seen in how one brings fruits for others by the gifts of the Holy Spirit sovereignly given to you. A spiritually developed person knows and uses the gifts given in an effective way for the glowy of the Lord’s name.

You see, spiritual growth is not automatic. It must be thought for and planned for. You see we give enough thought about our future career, our financial goals, children’s education, and future, and our retirement. However, when it comes to the most important individual matter of our life which has a current and eternal impact, our spiritual growth, we cannot afford to give less priority. Your rewards here and eternity are hinged on your personal spiritual growth.

True spiritual growth and maturity have a beginning point. The beginning point is the time you accept the Son of God, Jesus Christ, as your savior and Lord, because God loves you and gave His Son to die in your place for all of your sins. Have you accepted God’s gift of salvation, the forgiveness of sins and eternal life available in Christ Jesus?

God wants you to grow. He does not want you to stay in the infant, toddler and young stage all through your allotted time here on this planet earth. He expects us to stand in front of him developed and spiritually matured by the Word of God and the Holy Spirit, although spiritual perfection now is not possible on this side of eternity.