Are you maturing? None of us like to consider ourselves “immature;” yet we know that there is a difference in people who act “mature” versus “immature.” It is important that we assess ourselves to see how mature we are and whether or not we are maturing. We need to assess our maturity in the following areas: spiritual, emotional, and relational.

Ask yourself these questions:

Spiritual Maturity Checklist

• Am I growing in my faith, evidenced by a deeper understanding of the Word of God?
• Am I growing in my relationship with God? (Paradoxically, this may be evidenced by the ability to maintain your faith even when God seems distant and unresponsive to your prayers.)
• Am I putting my convictions and beliefs into action and applying them to my life, or am I merely a hearer of the Word only?
• Am I offering myself to be of service to the body of Christ and others by using my gifts and talents in my church and life?
• Am I living by faith (trusting and surrendering) with whatever problems are in my life today?

Emotional Maturity Checklist

• Am I able to maintain a perspective in the midst of my trials that helps me see they are necessary for my growth?
• Am I growing in understanding of who I am and gaining insight into my strengths and weaknesses?
• Am I growing in acceptance of myself for who God made me to be in my physical appearance, personality, and abilities?
• Am I working on changing my character defects and liabilities?
• Am I able to feel my emotions, or am I still stuffing my emotions and living in denial?
• Am I able to forgive myself when I make mistakes instead of beating myself up?

Relationship Maturity Checklist

• Are my expectations of other people becoming more realistic?
• Is it becoming easier for me to admit when I am wrong?
• Am I growing in my ability to ask for what I need from other people?
• Am I becoming less resentful by taking responsibility for my choices?
• Am I getting better at saying no when I mean no, and yes when I mean yes?
• Am I becoming a better communicator by speaking clearly and directly in all my relationships?
• Is it getting easier for me to let other people be responsible for their own choices and feelings?
• Am I letting go of the compulsion to force other people to do what I think they should do?
• Am I growing in my ability to be myself with other people?
• Am I improving in my ability to exercise self-control?

None of us are completely mature, but all of us should be maturing. You are maturing if you are seeing growth and change in each of these areas and you are consciously working on improvement.

By Karla Downing

Relationship Devotional Prayer

 
God,
Help me to honestly assess how I am maturing spiritually, emotionally, and relationally. Give me the ability to commit myself to becoming more mature. Give me the insight and wisdom I need to know how to be mature in each of these areas as situations come up on a daily basis. Help me be patient with myself as I recognize areas I am struggling in and attempt to make better choices.

Relationship Devotional Challenge

• Commit yourself to becoming more mature spiritually, emotionally, and relationally.
• Focus on one to two specific things that you need to work on in each area and develop an obtainable short-term goal.

Scripture Meditation

 
Philippians 3:12-15a

“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us who are mature should take such a view of things.” (NIV)

James 1:2-5

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (NIV)

These Scriptures reinforce the idea that becoming more mature should be an ongoing goal for all of us.