What are the Building Blocks to Growth?

2012/October by Marji Laine 4 Comments

I’m not going to share about biology or cellular dynamics. The growth I’m talking about is spiritual, physical, and intellectual. And all of that type of growth depends on the things that have gone before.

There’s a new skyscraper up in downtown Dallas and guess what? They didn’t start

building at the penthouse level. They started with a foundation, then a basement. They crafted a framework by building on the metal they’d already set in place. Then they filled in the floors, one at a time, again building on the structure they created, and the floor below.

Anything we do in growth requires building on what we’ve already done. Tweet this!

Think about it. Muscle-building and endurance requires regular practice of pushing yourself beyond where you went yesterday. Learning something new requires a starting place – a connection to something you already comprehend. Otherwise, explaining Calculus by using words like sine and cosine wastes my time because I don’t understand those terms.

Oh wait … those are Trigonometry terms … SEE how little I understand?

I read an article the other day that encouraged writers to keep their dated drafts and different versions of their manuscripts so they could look back at where they’ve been and see the journey. Here’s the article. And it went on to speak of how God had Moses create a pile of rocks at the base of the Red Sea to remember how the Lord protected them.

Such a cool idea and it reminded me of a song that we sing from time to time. Love the words of this piece that speaks of remembering all that God has done in anticipation of what He will do.

I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. Psalm 77:11

God knew that His people would need the reminder of what He had done for them when they found themselves faced with desperate situations. His people today need the same. We build ministries on the shoulders of the precious faithful ones who have gone before us. The ministries that they created and the love and joy they spread become the new layers to the missions we have.

May we never forget how the Lord has worked His will in the past. May we never forget those who fought the good fight and finished the race. And may we never fail to look forward to the path He holds for us. The upward call that has us reaching, and building, higher.

Your turn: How has God been building your next level?