Measuring Your Progress

I f you’re not growing spiritually then you’ve either become stagnant or you’re moving backwards. While it might be impossible to get a precise measurement of your progress, you can know whether or not you’re growing and maturing in your faith.

One way to assess your spiritual headway is to ask questions of yourself—questions that expose how you’re really doing. Here are a few thought-provoking questions designed to help you measure your progress toward maturity in Christ:

• Are you closer to God today than you were a year ago? How do you know?
• Are you more surrendered to God’s oversight of your life?
• Do you sense a growing eternal perspective reminding you that this life is not all there is?
• Do you view your life as an investment that is accompanied by an eagerness to please God?
• Do you find hope and encouragement from God’s word?
• Do you talk to God conversationally?
• Are you more of a taker or contributor?
• Are you able to turn to God even in pain and hardship?
• Does your worship go beyond singing songs at a weekend church service?
• Have you learned to feed yourself spiritually?
• Have you made progress over sinful habits?
• Have you embraced God’s grace, abandoning any attempt to earn, keep, or prove your salvation through good behavior?
• Are you seeing changes in your life?
• Is the fruit of the Spirit increasing in your life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control?
• Are you sharing God’s love with others?
• Are you influencing others for God, using the gifts He’s given you?
• Do you desire to see Jesus and be with Him?