8 Indicators of Spiritual Growth

What Are The Indicators Of Spiritual Growth?

The indicators of spiritual growth are pointers to the improvement that has happened in your life since accepting Jesus as your master. They include signs such as having a love for God, making better choices, being willing to preach the gospel, and more.

In my last post, I wrote about the importance of setting spiritual goals and provided fabulous tips for doing the same.  If you have not read the post, I strongly suggest you do so because it sets the foundation for this post. Feel free to click the link provided above.

Have you ever wondered if you’re growing spiritually? Well, you should! Because as stated in my last post, God is not a wasteful investor, if He has invested in you, He’s expecting a return.

Several bible passages corroborate this truth, and below is an example;

2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. John 15:2 (NIV)

So God expects us to bear fruit. If He expects us to bear fruit is it not better to proactively evaluate ourselves before that great day of the Lord?

31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. 1 Corinthians 11:31 (NKJV)

That’s why this post talks about some indicators of spiritual growth. Hopefully, by the time you are done reading, you would have gained deeper insight into your spiritual growth. Or at best you would have refreshed your memory about the indicators of spiritual growth.

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What is an Indicator?

Before going into the details about the signs of spiritual growth, let’s examine the word indicator. An Indicator is a sign or a pointer to something.

Merriam Webster aptly defines an indicator as a sign or symptom. Something that points out or points to. In essence, we are reviewing the signs or symptoms of spiritual growth in this post.

8 Signs of Spiritual Growth

Make Better Choices

One sign that you are growing spiritually is that you make better choices.

Apostle Paul said;

11 When I was a child, I spoke 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 13:11 (NKJV)

One indicator of spiritual growth is the ability to walk in obedience to God’s will and not make choices based on the flesh.

Just like Moses told the Israelites to make a choice on whether to obey God and live or disobey and die.

19 This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live Deuteronomy 30:19 (NIV)

If you are growing spiritually, you will naturally gravitate towards making better choices.

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Have Better Character

Having a good or improved character is another indicator of spiritual growth. Character is so important but the church doesn’t talk much about it these days.

Your character is what distinguishes you from others, it’s a combination of not just your temperament but your morals, ethics, and values as well.

As Christians, we are expected to have a good character because we are ambassadors of Jesus Christ on earth.

20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. 2 Corinthians 5:20 (NKJV)

Cultivating a Life of Character: Judges/Ruth (A Woman After God’s Own Heart®)

If you used to lie and steal as a Christian but now find those things abominable, it’s a good sign. It’s a sign of spiritual growth.

Whatever you do that you cannot boast of or that you don’t want a third party to get wind of needs to be worked on.

21 What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. Romans 6:21 (NKJV)

According to the above Bible verse, we see that it’s normal for a Christian growing spiritually to look back and be ashamed of some things they’ve done in the past.

For example, before I gave my life to Jesus Christ, I was good at keeping malice. In fact, it was so bad that one time, I kept malice with a neighbor for a whole year! But now I find it hard to keep malice because I’ve discovered that God frowns at it.

 

Love For The Things of God

It’s impossible to grow spiritually and not have an increased love for the things of God. Because love for God and the things of God is at the heart of spiritual growth.

As you grow spiritually, you will know more about God and therefore love the things that pertain to God.

That’s why I get surprised when some Christians act as if they’re doing their pastors a favor by being a church worker.

A growing Christian will require fewer prods to serve in God’s house.

Embrace Evangelism

Another indicator of spiritual growth is embracing evangelism. In this advent of social media, there’s no longer a valid excuse for not evangelizing.

If all you do is direct someone to this blog, you would have done a bit of evangelism.

At least you would have directed someone else to where they can read about God and His word. A spiritually growing Christian will not wait to be coaxed before they take up evangelism.

They will go about willingly spreading the good news of Jesus Christ as God commands.

15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. Mark 16:15 (NKJV)

Become A Role Model

Becoming a role model for others is an indicator of spiritual growth.

At this stage, you are conscious of your actions because you know that others look up to you.

And as a good role model, you will not just talk the talk but, you will walk the talk.

So that you can boldly say like the apostle Paul; Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ. 1 Corinthians 11:1 (NKJV)

You will not say “do as I say”, but rather, you will say “do as I do”.

And your actions will be genuine, from your inward man and not because others are watching you.

Have Hatred For Sin

Another indicator of spiritual growth is that you will have hatred for sin.

The scriptures said concerning Jesus Christ;

9 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.” Hebrews 1:9 (NKJV)

That was Jesus’ testimony, He hated sin and loved righteousness and that was why the Pharisees faced much criticism with Him. Because the Pharisees were more interested in their outward appearance than their inner man.

What’s the first way to identify a new believer? It’s by the change evident in their life; the proud person will become humble, the drunkard will no longer drink, etc. They will become a new creature in Christ Jesus.

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)

Are you growing spiritually? Is your taste for sin diminishing or are you rationalizing sin? Don’t forget what the bible says;

35 The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. Matthew 12:35 (ESV)

 

Perseverance In Adversity

What is your reaction in the time of adversity? Are you like Job ever trusting, or are you like Job’s wife ready to curse God and die?

Another indicator of spiritual growth is the ability to persevere in the face of adversity.

The book of Proverbs says;

10 If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small. Proverbs 24:10 (ESV)

Because it means you have not yet taken enough root downward to withstand the storms of life.

Imagine a tree planted on good soil with its roots firmly embedded in the ground, will it be shaken by the wind? No, because it has a solid foundation.

Rejoicing in God’s Faithfulness through Life’s Uncertainty, Disappointment, and Loss

5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. John 15:5-7 (ESV)

If we abide in Christ and He in us, we will not faint in the day of adversity, rather we will persevere because we know our redeemer lives.

17 Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, The Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, Who teaches you to profit, Who leads you by the way you should go. Isaiah 48:17 (NKJV)

When you’re growing spiritually, you will have the assurance that God is by your side and that He will help you. You won’t faint in adversity but you will persevere.

Love for Others

Having an unselfish concern for others is another sign of spiritual growth. When you’re growing spiritually, you will no longer be self-absorbed. Rather, you will start to behave like God and do good to those who hate you.

44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? 48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect. Matthew 5:44-48 (NKJV)

Did you read that? To be true ambassadors of Jesus Christ, we have to love the God kind of way.

Summary on the Indicators of Spiritual Growth

We have reviewed some signs of spiritual growth in order to be able to gauge our growth and take remedial actions. The above set of indicators is not exhaustive and there are many more.

As a matter of fact, the above indicators are what you would refer to as lagging indicators of spiritual growth. Because they are not signs that are immediately evident in most cases but these signs will appear over time.

And guess what? There are rewards for fruitful Christians both on earth and in heaven. 

Till next time, I hope you continue taking steps to grow spiritually.