DAY 19 — Soaking in What is Greater

Growth in Christ doesn’t always look like success as the world defines it.

John the Baptist’s ministry was thriving—crowds came to hear him preach, people repented, and disciples followed him. But when Jesus began His public ministry, John’s numbers dropped. Some of his disciples jumped ship to follow Jesus instead, and others complained about it.

John’s response?

“He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.” —John 3:30 NLT

To the outside world, that sounds like a bum deal. Fading into the background. Losing influence. Shrinking. But John knew who he was, and Whose he was. Real growth wasn’t about making a name for himself—it was about being filled with the fullness of Christ.

Think of my infamous dishwasher disaster. I squeezed Dawn dish soap into the detergent slot, and bubbles poured out in every direction, flooding the kitchen floor. What you pour in determines what flows out.

Now picture something better: plunging a dry sponge into the ocean. At first, it’s small and withered. But once immersed, it begins to expand until it soaks up the very fullness of the sea around it. That’s how spiritual growth works. We don’t grow by striving harder—we grow by intentional immersion in who God is, until our lives expand into His fullness.

Real growth happens when we shrink in self and expand in Christ.

That takes intentionality. We all have laundry, deadlines, carpool lines, grandkids, groceries, and a hundred responsibilities pulling at us. But immersion is still possible. Here are some basics to help you “soak” in Christ:

• Spend time in prayer daily, even if short.
• Read the Bible at least 15 minutes a day.
• Journal prayers or insights on paper or in your phone.
• Listen to Bible-based podcasts.
• Memorize Scripture one verse at a time.
• Read biographies of faithful believers.
• Swap out your usual playlist for worship music while you work or drive.

The more space you and I make for Him, the more our souls soak in His presence.

Drink Deep

What could “intentional immersion” look like for you this week? Pick one of the practices above, and commit to it daily as a way to sink deeper into the fullness of God.