IncreaseSample

The Process of Increase

Many people are interested in the product of increase. They like the idea of ‘more.’ More of what they want in life: joy, friends, greater witness, resource, grace, etc. While these are all great things to desire, none of them comes without a price. This is why we cannot stop our focus on the product of increase without looking beyond to the process of increase. To make more friends, you may need to work on yourself to become the kind of person who encourages others and invests in relationships. To have more resources, you might need to start a savings process or work more diligently.

For any increase, there will be intent and investment. If we only focus on the product of increase without an intentional strategy, we will be aimless. Thankfully, we have the greatest mind and supernatural wisdom available to us; the mind of Christ! It only takes getting alone with God and praying to hear His voice. The Holy Spirit will guide you and show you how to go about the work that it will take to bring increase. Once you get the intent, then it is time for an investment.

This is where we work the plan God has given us. Your investment could be time, prayer, financial, or many other things. Be brave! If God put the plan together, He will give you the grace with your investment. There is a key factor in your intent and investment: Humility. This is a huge part of this process. Jesus humbled himself to become a man and ultimately to the point of death on the cross. Philippians chapter 2, verse seven through nine tells us that because of his humility, God exalted him to the highest place. This is why the prayer of Jabez is so important. It shows us that Jabez humbled himself and asked God for an increase, along with the things that go into the process. Things like staying away from evil and not causing pain. Also, that the hand of God would be upon him. This is another way of asking God for His grace to empower him. We have to be humble enough to admit that we cannot do this on our own. We need God to step in with His power to bring about the plan and process that will bring the increase.

What is God's dream for your increase? Take some time to get alone with God and pray. Seek His plan and the process to follow. Set your heart on the intention to humble yourself and invest the time and effort required to carry out the plan. Trust God that He will meet you with His own intention and investment of grace to empower you and bring about increase. Finally, if the process is going to be carried out to completion, you have to remain in Him. Jesus talked about this with His disciples in John 15. Some translations call this abiding. It means to live, to stay, and to dwell in. Jesus showed us that if we abide in Him and He in us, then we will bear much fruit; increase! If you detach from Jesus, His person, His plan, and His process, then there will be no fruit. But if you live, stay, and dwell in Him, get ready for increase!

Reflections & Application:

1. Ensure you are intentional in setting time aside to hear from God.

2. What specific area is God asking you to be brave, have intent, and invest?

3. What does humility look like? How will you remain humble?