You Grow Girl

A few weeks ago, while getting my nails done, I noticed a cute little flower pot with grass growing out of it. On the pot were the words "You Grow Girl." That's what inspired today's topic: personal growth.

God has placed potential inside each of us — hidden ability meant for the purpose He has for our lives. The question we all have to answer is: what has God purposed us to do?

If we're not careful, we'll spend our lives meandering — never fulfilling our purpose, just dabbling in it, or living out everyone else's purpose instead of our own. If you're in a job you hate or a career that isn't fulfilling, it's time to make a change. And even if you're already walking in your purpose, I can guarantee God has more for you.

Do you really have time to keep living a life that isn't purpose-driven?

We can't reduce our lives to trial and error.

A lot of us want our lives to improve, but our lives won't improve until we improve ourselves. We don't have to learn everything the hard way, through hard knocks, or by "doing the best I know" because nobody taught us better. God has a better way — and growth has to be intentional. It doesn't happen automatically, not even in a marriage. Loving your spouse doesn't make the marriage better; growing does.

What are you running from?

What areas have people pointed out that you need to work on — areas you keep dodging, like Pac-Man running from ghosts? I've been there, and honestly, some of those areas still apply to me. It stings to realize you're not perfect. And here's the harder truth: the more you grow, the more areas you'll discover that still need work.

We can't expect to grow simply by going through the motions — work, kids' activities, Bible study, Sunday service — and hoping life experience alone teaches us what we need to learn. We have to be intentional.

It starts with self-awareness.

How often do we sit down with God and actually write out His plan and desires for our lives? We can't just keep existing — waking up, working, making dinner, watching Netflix, going to bed, repeat. There's more to life than that.

To grow, you have to know yourself: your strengths, your weaknesses, where you're starting, and where you're headed.

A personal example.

As Executive Pastor at my church, our leadership team has been using John Maxwell's 5 Levels of Leadership to assess our development. When I built our Level 1 assessment, the number one area leaders admitted they weren't developed in was turning assignments in well before deadline. But here's the thing — simply acknowledging a weakness doesn't fix it. You need a personal growth plan.

I learned this firsthand. Years ago, my husband Dominic and I couldn't get on the same page about something, and I was certain he was the one who needed to change. My spiritual mom told me — it was me who needed to grow. That stung, but I prayed and asked God to lead me to something that would help. He led me to the book Leviathan Exposed by Robert Hotchkin, and it changed how I responded to situations. I didn't just read it — I applied it. I was growing. If I wanted to rise above my circumstances, I had to grow.

More than pastoring.

I love being a pastor — it's without question God's purpose for my life. But a few years ago I felt an unsettledness: there was more God was calling me to, beyond pastoring, raising kids, church, and everyday life. Part of me was scared to even ask what that "more" was, because it meant unfamiliar territory.

So I sat down and asked myself two questions:

• What has God called me to?

• What am I doing to develop myself?

According to John Maxwell's The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth, growth is not automatic — it's a choice. James Allen said it well: "People are anxious to improve their circumstances, but are unwilling to improve themselves. Therefore, they remain bound."

A challenge for you.

Do you want to know what else God has placed inside you, waiting to come forth?

If you don't already have one, I encourage you to build a personal growth plan. Go public with it — tell others, and let them hold you accountable. Surround yourself with people who are growing too; that's the best boost you can give yourself.

One last thought.

John Maxwell used to share a riddle his father gave him as a kid: Five frogs are sitting on a log. Four decide to jump off. How many are left? Young John answered, "One." His father said, "No — five. Why? Because there's a difference between deciding and doing."

Make the decision to do something today toward your personal growth.

You Grow Girl