“How about that Midwestern welcome last night?” I asked my friend. She was visiting from Alaska and rarely witnessed lightning storms. I knew the storm from the night before was a memory maker. Vicky’s eyes lit up as she exclaimed, “The lightning was so bright! The thunder was awesome. I didn’t get a wink of sleep last night. I couldn’t with such a show!”

I nodded enthusiastically, remembering my own first Midwestern storm after living in Alaska most of my life. Vicky chuckled and said, “I grew up falling asleep to recordings of thunderstorms, so I didn’t think experiencing one would be much different. Man, was I wrong. The real this is so much better!”

I think we can treat our spiritual growth in much the same way. We often settle with where we find ourselves in our faith walk. Somewhere along the way, we stop looking for the “real deal” in our relationship with God. We can forget that we were offered so much more than what we’ve settled for out of convenience, fear, or doubt.

May we always strive for the spiritual growth that makes us more like Christ Himself. — by Cassie Rayl, from womenofgraceusa.wordpress.com