Katherine Rutherford 

How do you feel about the term “spiritual growth?”  Personally I find it to be both equal parts of exciting and scary, with a big fat dollop of overwhelming sometimes thrown in the mix. There’s an expression “you don’t know what you don’t know”, and this is true for every aspect of our lives. If we don’t take the time to learn, if we’re not open to receiving correction and guidance on the things we think we know, and if we aren’t willing to trust a process (for that is what growth is!) then we will never know what exactly is waiting for us to learn.....and what God wants us to learn! He wants us to be fully equipped, to lead abundant lives and to step confidently into the world armed with His truth.

​

OUR spiritual growth is OUR responsibility. It is not the responsibility of our Pastors or church leaders. It is not the responsibility of our parents or family. Spiritual growth begins when we take the first step of surrendering our will to that of God’s – acknowledging Him in all our ways, including those ways (areas) that need growth!

Life is busy and so overwhelming at times that it’s really easy to push aside our own responsibility. Excuses are easy and we trust that God understands how busy we are. And He does, but He wants more for you! And just how amazing is it that the Creator of the Universe wants you to growth and flourish in Him!

When we aren’t exercising and growing our own faith it becomes like hands and feet that have been sat on and have pins & needles or are numb. You know that strange feeling of knowing there is a part of you there but not being able to feel or use it in the way it is designed to be felt and used. When we don’t exercise or grow our faith we risk it becoming numb. Our hands and feet were made to be used as designed – just like our faith.

So how do you go about growing spiritually? That is a personal answer that only God can give you. The answer seems a little like an oxymoron right, to hear God speak you have to hear God speak..... But it’s not as complicated as it might seem....it all comes back to the very simple principle of surrendering your will to His....the very real words “but God” (In scripture we see “but God” - a person was blind BUT now they see; BUT God made a way; something was lost BUT now it is found).....and knowing that His timing is perfect. Move towards Him in whatever way feels right for you to start with and will begin to gain momentum. Press into His word, pray for people you drive pass that if they don’t know Him that they will encounter Him today in the ordinary, pray as your kids climb out of the car and walk through the school gates that they will bless their fellow classmates today, pray that God will show you His will. When you take action so does God, and just like all of nature that He created, when you begin to grow so God begins to guide and grow you as He designed.

Kath is married to Scotty and they reside in the Manawatu with their 5 boys aged from 1 to 14 years old. Kath's desire is to see women not only supporting each other in their daily life but also championing each other on their Christian walk.