Accidental changes and intentional changes.

While I was reading an article written by John C Maxwell, two words captured my attention, Accidental Growth and Intentional Growth. I started to ponder upon this and asked God what is it that, he wanted me to understand and learn from this. When I began to read his word, God turned my attention to

1 Corinthians 13:11Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; now that I have become a man, I am done with childish ways and have put them aside.

1 Corinthians 13:11Amplified Bible (AMP) 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. 1 Corinthians 13:11King James Version (KJV) 11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 1 Corinthians 13:11English Standard Version (ESV) 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.

Here we can see that Paul speaks about putting aside many things so that he could Grow. When he was child he says that he thought, spoke and understood as a child. But as he grew, he put away the things that he used to do earlier. This is the start of an Intentional Growth, which means that he purposefully put away things so that he could grow.

Here Paul says “I Gave Up”, “I Put Away” and “I have put them aside”, which means he understood that he had to initiate this so that he could Grow.

It is difficult to put away the things which we used to do. In this verse he clearly says that there are 3 areas that he understood challenges is required if he needs to grow; his SPEECH, UNDERSTANDING CAPABILITY and his THOUGHTS. His thoughts, understanding capability, speaking was the main challenge for his growth and hence he had to put them away intentionally.

Many times we wait upon on the Lord asking for Growth, but then we forget that there are things we need to do from our end so that we can Grow. Yes it is true that in the Bible one encounter or one touch from God can change your life. Let us look at the life of Paul, when he had an encounter with Christ he made up his mind to leave everything behind and follow Christ.

When we read through Galatians 1:16, 17 Paul says, When it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me by his Grace, to reveal his Son in me that I might preach him among the heathen, immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me, but I went into Arabia.

Philippians 3:9-14, here he speaks about the steps that he took to follow Jesus, these changes did not take place because of his encounters or an instant miracle. He understood that he had to take a few steps intentionally so that he can Grow and get into a closer relationship with God.

An encounter does not take you into a strong relationship with God, it can give you a revelation about God but if you want to build a solid relationship you need to make an effort. Your spiritual growth is very much dependent on your relationship with God. We can see that almost every person had a character of doing things intentionally and walking close to God.

Let us expect an encounter from God or an accidental change in our life, anytime. But do not lean only on this, but let us make intentional changes in our life so that we can walk more closer to God.