7 Signs of Spiritual Maturity

When I was in my twenties, I thought I knew everything. The older I have become, the less I realize I know. I am completely and utterly dependent on God for everything.

With every passing year, I’m more aware of my need to lean in harder on the Lord for the unknowns in my life. Things like: Which direction should I go? How should I answer the question that was posed to me? When asked, how can I help my adult children with their problems? How can I be there for my grandkids? How can I forgive?

Trusting in the Lord helps me navigate the bottomless pit of unknowns that I swirl around in every day of my life. The byproduct of trusting in the Lord is that I am a little more spiritually mature than I used to be.

As we mature, we begin to think differently. “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.” (1 Cor. 13:11)

Apart from God and the wisdom that He bestows to me, I am nothing short of having a continual bad idea. Seriously, I do not trust myself. My best ideas are usually quite pitiful compared to what God shows me.

Because I do not always know what to do or how to do it, I depend on Him. He wants me to pray to Him, seek His face and trust in Him. Thankfully, He hears to answer. He loves me so much that He unfolds His plan for my life. The Bible tells me that “God directs my steps.” (Ps. 37:23) So I do not fret.

reading bibles together

Life can be hard. Unexpected things happen and you suddenly feel the rug being pulled out from under your feet. As Christians, we can weather the storms of life because we have Christ as our anchor, our mediator, our guide, our deliverer, our teacher, and our Lord. As the storm winds blow our faith-root grows deeper. We continue to grow and mature in Him. Our faith deepens. Our walk looks different. Our life looks different. We begin to look more like Christ.

While pondering spiritual maturity, I asked myself, “What does it mean to live a Christ-like, spiritually minded, and God dependent life?” Equally important, “What does it look like?” Diving deep into this thought, the following seven lifestyle markers came to mind as a good place to start.

7 Signs of Spiritual Maturity

Spiritual maturity is doing the right thing when nobody is watching. We all have opportunities to do the right thing. Let us be faithful and walk with integrity when folks are watching and when nobody is watching. “Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.” (Prov. 10:9)
Spiritual maturity is not saying what you deeply want to say, even when it would be justified. Sometimes it is best to hold your tongue. Self-control can look different depending on your circumstance. I believe that holding your tongue is one of the best ways of showing others what godly self-control looks like. Often it is better to choose peace over being right. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” (Gal. 5:22-23)
Spiritual maturity is trusting God more than yourself. We have decisions before us every day of our lives. Knowing, believing, and trusting that God knows what best is the key to our leaning into Him every day. Let us not consult ourselves. Let us consult the Lord, the author and finisher of our faith. He is the only one who can see tomorrow before it arrives, or if it will arrive. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Prov. 3:5-6)
Spiritual maturity puts others first. When you wake up, ask the Lord for your daily assignment from Him. Pay attention to others’ needs. Discover how you can help meet their needs first, before your own. Try not to be so married to your calendar that you cannot afford to give someone else a day of service. “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.” (Phil. 2:3)
Spiritual maturity is fighting for the bottom. Christ came to serve not to be served. Let us follow His example. Try to out-serve your spouse and others around you. Surprise them by already having it done. “Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free.” (Eph. 6:7-8)
Spiritual maturity is loving others despite themselves. Not everyone is lovable. God does not call us to like. He calls us to love. God blesses us with grace and mercy to love folks even when they may act unlovable. Our love is natural and flawed. God’s love is supernatural and enough. “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” (1 John 4:7-8)
Spiritual maturity is having a lifestyle of forgiveness. We are all hurt and disappointed by someone every so often. Choose not to be offended. Forgiveness is a choice. Do not wait for your feelings to give you permission to forgive. Give away forgiveness like Christ. We did not deserve it, but He gave it to us anyway. “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” (Col. 3:13)