#7 Self-Development

Development, change, and growth are all part of the seventh emotional law called self-improvement. This is not a “pull myself up by my own bootstraps” thing, but a natural and gradual development. 

Hebrews 10:14 says, “For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.” This is the already and not yet promise. We are perfect and are being made perfect. 

Growth implies a natural progression from one perfectly spectacular state to another.  A tree may be great now, and in a year will have grown into even more greatness.  A puppy grows into a dog or a kitten grows into a cat without being anything less than ideal all along the way. We’re whole now. We’re the whole of all that we are.  Yes, we’re wholly us. 

We don’t need to decide every little detail and direction our growth will take.  We need to nurture ourselves and enjoy the mystery of creation. Growth happens when certain conditions exist. The principle of stewardship says that when we care for ourselves as God asks us to do, we grow. If we feed ourselves some uplifting ideas; give ourselves room to make mistakes; forgive ourselves; accept ourselves; regularly take good care of ourselves; and even give occasional splurges of pampering; we’ll grow – naturally, beautifully, splendidly.

Let it grow, let it grow, let it grow!