MAXIMUM GROWTH – The Daily Recharge

Hello, friends!

I’m grateful to join you for another blog post.

In the last episode of our podcast, I shared the following:

2024 is your year to grow!

It’s your destiny. God intentionally designed you like that.

When you’re yielded to God – that is, submitted to His leadership and direction for your life – He “busies Himself with (your) every step” (Psalm 37:23, AMPC). In other words, God aims for maximum return on the investment of greatness He placed within you.

How does He accomplish it? How does He ensure that we grow to our potential? Thankfully, Lord Jesus shared the answer:

I am the real vine, and my Father is the gardener. He breaks off every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and he prunes every branch that does bear fruit, so that it will be clean and bear more fruit. I am the vine, and you are the branches … Those who remain in me, and I in them, will bear much fruit; for you can do nothing without me (John‬ ‭15‬:‭1 – 2‬, ‭5‬, ‭GNT‬‬).

Note the twofold process God employs to maximize our fruitfulness:

ADDING: In the opening words of this epic discourse, Lord Jesus said, “I am the real vine, and my Father is the gardener” (John 15:1, GNT). Although concise, this sentence is rich with revelation. It’s a nod to the love of the Father, manifested in the life, death, and resurrection of Lord Jesus. Through this sacrifice, God adds us to the vine. We become one with Christ after we receive Him as Lord and Savior. And when we remain in Him, we “will bear much fruit” (John 15:5, GNT).

SUBTRACTING: Lord Jesus also dropped this profound statement: “and he prunes every branch that does bear fruit, so that it will be clean and bear more fruit” (John 15:2, GNT). Through a process identified as pruning, He subtracts or removes things from us that will hinder our growth, or cause us to grow in areas He has not authorized. While this may be the more intense of the two steps, the end is the same. We bear more fruit.

And, there you have it. God’s process for maximizing our growth is adding and subtracting. If you’re a math buff like me, then you probably think that’s counterproductive. Subtracting usually negates adding and vice versa.

Unless you’re God.

Somehow, He has the uncanny ability to make us grow while adding and subtracting. I love how this verse captures God’s incredible prowess in our growth process:

We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose. For those whom He foreknew [of whom He was aware and loved beforehand], He also destined from the beginning [foreordaining them] to be molded into the image of His Son [and share inwardly His likeness], that He might become the firstborn among many brethren (Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭28‬-‭29,‬ ‭AMPC‬‬)

Now, let’s make this practical. Below, I included some ways you can embrace the pattern God uses to maximize your growth:

PRAISE HIM FOR THE GAINS: If you have acknowledged Christ as Lord and Savior, then thank God for His love. Believe me, it wasn’t a small sacrifice offered to graft you into His family. God gave us His very best in Lord Jesus, and praise shows gratitude for the great lengths He went to for our benefit.

PRAISE HIM FOR WHAT’S GONE: As God prunes things from your life, don’t grieve them excessively long. Remember that He’s preparing you to be more fruitful, and He removed for a good reason. Be thankful for His wisdom, and celebrate the increased fruit you will produce past the pruning.

God adds and subtracts to maximize our growth. We should praise Him for the gains and what’s gone to maximize our gratitude.

If you need help sorting through the process you’re in, I’d love to keep this conversation going. Reach out to me at info@induranceministries.com, and let’s dig deeper to find out how God is maximizing your growth.