Ron Aulbach

Summer is a time to slow down, take a break and enjoy a few months of warm weather here in Michigan. It’s also a time of incredible growth, everything around you is growing this time of year.  The city I’m in grows as tourism increases.  The traffic grows on the running and the mountain bike trails.  The lines for iced coffee and ice cream grow very long on warm days.  Gardens and lawns grow. Family vacations grow strong bonds and memories together. Your hair grows faster. It’s true. Not my hair, but yours does.

“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” 2 Peter 3:18

If everything is growing, it seems reasonable to expect that our spiritual lives should be growing as well. Sadly, many take the summer off from the habits and disciplines that bring about spiritual growth. I want to encourage you to use the freedom and flexibility that summer provides to do a spiritual “check-up” and grow closer to God. Here are a few areas to check your spiritual growth this summer:

1. Growing in the Word – Is your Bible dusty? Use the summer to read a new section of scripture. Pick one book and read it every day. Tip: 2 Peter is a great one for this.
2. Growing in Service – Can you remember the last time you did something for someone else? Pick a project or organization to get involved in and serve monthly over the summer.  Food banks, shelters, and non profit organizations are in need of help with their summer project lists.
3. Growing in Community – Who have you wanted to get together with but haven’t made time for? Do this right now, write down the name of a person you will make plans to spend time with this summer. Invite them over for a meal on the deck or coffee in the shade.
4. Growing in your Love of Others – Do you find yourself annoyed by the people around you? You’re annoyed that I just asked you that aren’t you. Resist the need to grumble or complain, and instead look for ways to show love to those around you. Serve someone in a way that they wouldn’t expect it, buy them a gift, write them a note.
5. Growing in Worship – Is worship the last thing you think about? Make it your first. When you get up in the morning, instead of Sports Center or Good Morning America, put on some great worship music and spend time thinking about all that God has done for you.

Growing requires you “check-up” instead of “checking out.”  Make this a great summer because you grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord.