God Gives the Growth

I am responsible for my actions and choices. God is the only one who gives the results.

It’s not a magic formula, either.

There is so much peace knowing that I am responsible for following Jesus and His promptings and His way, and God is responsible for giving the results. I can’t force results.

So I need to stop putting my identity into the results, but into the obedience.

I cannot cause my own spiritual growth.

I can partner with the Holy Spirit, obeying when He tugs on my heart (apologize, slow down, reach out), and know that is the extent of my responsibility. What happens next isn’t up to me.

Then it moves through that and settles into peace. Because it’s so freeing that I get to obey, and that’s it. If I obey and don’t get the results I hoped for, that’s okay. I’m only responsible for obeying. If I obey and do get the results I hoped for, it wasn’t me.

My identity is shifting. I’m no longer finding my identity in results, but in how quickly and thoroughly I obey the Holy Spirit.

It is God who gives the growth.

(1 Corinthians 3:5-9, Mark 4:26-29)