Proverbs 4:18
The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter until the full light of day.
By God’s design for the righteous man, things evolve for him. Growth and the believer are constant. God expects our lives to move all the time – in every area.
If our lives are not growing, it is a state of stagnation and we must know how to break it and crush it.
Deuteronomy 1:6
The Lord our God said to us at Horeb, “You have stayed long enough at this mountain.
Just like the Israelites in this verse, sometimes you are circling a particular area for long.
Stagnation is difficult to measure because the yardstick to measuring it most times is usually wrong. Most times we compare ourselves with our peers.
How do we measure stagnation?
- Comparing ourselves to others – The barometer we set for determining whether we are stagnant or not is by comparing ourselves to another. 2 Corinthians 10:12-13 We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the sphere of service God himself has assigned to us, a sphere that also includes you. When we are comparing ourselves with others it is foolish. That is unwise. We cannot judge our lives on the basis of comparison.
- Measuring against your own plans and projections – Another way we measure stagnation is that we look at our plans and projections and see whether we met them or not. Proverbs 16:9 In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps. Man plans, God establishes. Making plans that are not God breathed do not stand. You don’t measure stagnation by your plans.
- Comparing your needs and wants – You measure stagnation by comparing your needs and your wants against someone else e.g. your friend has two houses and you are still renting. Luke 12:15 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” Jesus said to watch out against all kinds of greed. Man’s progress or success is not based on what he has. In Christianity, people think that only when you prosper you are spiritual. 1 Timothy 6:3-5
If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.
People think that unless you are amassing, you are not godly. 1 Timothy 6:6-8 But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Wealth is not a measure of spirituality. When Joseph went to prison, by man’s measure, he was stagnant but in God he was progressing. Because through that prison, he would get to Pharaoh.
If you are not moving and advancing towards God’s goal in your life, then it is stagnation. It has to be that you are moving per time in God’s time to His plan and purposes. We only move according to God’s plan for our lives. It must be according to God’s calendar. Philippians 3:12
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. If you are taking hold, you are making progress. If not, you are stagnant.
Hebrews 10:7 Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll— I have come to do your will, my God.’ Everything Jesus did was according to God’s will. It was about being in alignment with God. Psalms 139:16 Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. There is a path of the just. There is a path set for us and it is different for everyone.
In measuring John the Baptist according to human standards, he would have been a failure but Jesus said of all prophets born of a woman, none were greater than John the Baptist. The will of God for John the Baptist was to declare and show the Christ. When he did that, he fulfilled God’s will for his life.
Movement is useless unless it is in the direction of God’s goal for your life. In Deuteronomy 1:6 mentioned earlier, we see that direction is important. The Israelites had to go in a certain direction to get to the promised land. It is the same with the believer. The will of God for each of us is different. Not everyone will have houses, that is not the measure for us. We must limit ourselves according to the will of God. Godliness with contentment is great gain.
How do you know if you are stagnant?
- You are not growing spiritually – spiritual growth is tied to everything else. According as his giving power has given to us all things 2 Peter 1:3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 1 Peter 2:2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.
- When you are sowing the wrong seeds – When you sow the right seeds God cannot be mocked. You will reap a harvest. Galatians 6:7-9 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Invest in good relationships. Invest in your spiritual growth. If you stay with the right people, you are sowing the right seeds. You may not see the result today but it will reap a harvest. Read good books, sow into your mind.
How do you pursue progress?
- Feast on God’s Word
Psalms 1:1-3 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers. Feasting on God’s word everyday will transform you. Meditate on it day and night. It will help you to walk with God and know Him.
- Keep company with God
The most productive company you can keep is God. Godliness is profitable in all things. Invest in God. That person brings forth fruit in every season. Whatever that person is doing will prosper because that person is walking with God. If you are planted in Christ, everything falls into place for you. John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. You cannot bear fruit outside of Him. Stay in Christ and bear the right fruit.
- Sow the right seeds
Pay attention to growth. There are certain things you cannot get in life unless you develop the capacity and character to handle it. If you get it, it will harm you. Growth ensures you are ready for the next step. The man that deliberately invests in God will enjoy the best of God. Sow the right seeds. It doesn’t matter because in due time they will reap a harvest if you faint not.
- Sow in relationships – you want to move forward and are not stagnant, you need the right relationships – in believers, in mentors. Social media friends are also friends so when you follow them everyday, they are influencing you. They are talking about the world, the next investment, the next business. You choose and your life moves in that direction.
- Invest in education, invest in training – The most important thing in life is planting. Keep doing and saying the right things. Don’t miss your planting season. Whatsoever your hands find to do, do it. Plant now and keep planting. Always sow the right seeds.
- Prayer
In life, challenges, deviations and distractions come between milestones and stages. Something will always come up to derail you. This is where prayer comes in. You need to pray. In Jesus’ final hour, he prayed with sweat like blood. He was moving through and settling it spiritually. He prayed and was strengthened.In the place of prayer, you are strengthened through. Don’t leave things to chance, adversity is not an excuse for stagnation. Adversity will always be there but we pray through to break those adversaries. Build yourself in the Holy Ghost, be a praying man and woman, making power and strength available. We must bring every high thing down. Prayer tunes you to the right direction and right things, it ensures we are aligned with God.
In conclusion, every believer is designed to move forward. Invest in the Word, sow the right seeds, keep the right company and pray.
