There are 3 phases of relating to God we ALL must go and hopefully grow through.

“I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, dear children, because you have known the Father. I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one.” (1 John 2:13-14 NIV)  

Did you notice the 3 phases of growth – Father, Young Men, Children?

Phase 1 – Children – Give Me Phase

How many times do I relate to God as a child – Give me! Children are me centered. It is about what God can do for them. There walk with God is conditional. I will serve God, but I want something in return. When you see this, realize they are children, and this is normal for a new Christian! This is where we start but we don’t want to stay here.

Phase 2 – Young Men/Women – Use Me Phase

Young men/women are full of activity! They are ready to do and to never slow down. I was this way as a young man. It’s not happening if I’m not busy. If I slowed down something was wrong. Do you know someone like this? Even as a Christian we are busy praying for empowerment, dreaming of doing great things for God and have enough zeal for at least 3 people. At this stage we are frantic for the power and anointing, but the irony is we really don’t know what we would do with the power it if we got it.

Young men are awesome, do great things, but generally aren’t open to criticism, redirection, or gaining wisdom because they have already arrived! Again, this is a level of Christianity we must go through – Use Me!

Phase 3 – Father/Mother – Make Me Phase

God wants to get us to a phase in our spiritual life where we stopped saying use me as much and start replacing it with make me. This is the stage where we stop having to work for God and we say God what do you want to do with me? The change in emphasis changes everything. This is where Christ likeness really begins to be formed. It is a wonderful phase.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalms 139:23-24 KJV)

“Put me on trial, LORD, and cross-examine me. Test my motives and affections.” (Psalms 26:2 NLT)  

This phase is tough. It involves examination of motives, redirection of energies, brokenness, and humility. It’s a stage where you start deeply abandoning yourself to God. But this phase is what makes you into a father/mother of the Lord. This is what makes you into a person of wisdom with a real contentedness in life. This is the phase that as God matures you He is also releasing you to parent others into maturity.

What phase do you think you are in?