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Proverbs of a 38 yr old man
Spiritual Adolescence. Adolescence is the time in a young person’s life when they transition from childhood into young adulthood and experience physical, behavioral, cognitive, emotional, and social developmental changes. There are three primary developmental stages of adolescence that I want to actually spiritualize. I think it will help us see our faith as something more tangible and see if we are maturing in it. We are all sons and daughters of God growing in relationship with Jesus and in the discipline of our Heavenly Father. So the first stage I want to go over is the early adolescence of our faith. A time where we are disciplining our bodies and learning to overcome temptations. The things that so easily beset us are beginning to loosen and its uncomfortable for us. Our fallen nature is dead and our new nature is alive. Our emotions are all over the place as we learn to trust in God and wait on him. Its in the early stage where we live off milk. Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. Then we enter into the middle adolescence stage of faith where we get a growth spurt. We have new found confidence in God seeing Him working in our lives. We are maturing from our instant anger and jealousy, and growing a backbone of identity in the process. During this stage, we start to set long-term goals and become interested in the meaning of life and moral reasoning. Being focused on arguments and facts, becoming over zealous at times. But this is where perseverance finishes its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. You will need wisdom, and you are to ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. Then lastly we have late adolescence stage of our faith. We should by now have a stronger sense of identity and individuality and can identify our own values. No longer are we tossed to and FRO on pivotal and foundational issues. On the Rock of Christ we have built this new life of faith, becoming more rational in our minds and able to have impulse control, delaying gratification planning for the future. The Holy Spirit is richly pouring in and out of your life. Having an increased dependence on God for identity has given you emotional stability in your relationships and with peers. You are truly letting God father you as He strengthens your heart and mind daily. Now, those who are mature in their faith can easily be recognized, for they don’t live to please themselves but have learned to patiently embrace others in their immaturity. Our goal must be to empower others to do what is right and good for them, and to bring them into spiritual maturity.
Study Heb. 6:1
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