Reclaiming Spiritual Growth This Easter - iBelieve Truth: A Devotional for Women - March 30, 2026
“Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen.” 2 Peter 3:18 (NLT)
As believers, we know that Christ dwells within us. His character and goodness reside in the depths of who we are, granting us access to imitate His nature. Still, imitating Christ remains a choice.
Christ always allows humans the space to make personal choices, including whether to cultivate the Christian character available to us through His Spirit. One of the biggest spiritual truths I’ve realized over the past few months is that the fruits of the Spirit are ours to cultivate.
Once we become saved, we aren’t automatically perfect. Of course, we have a new desire to be like Christ, but this desire still wars with human ignorance, our sinful nature, and a world filled with confusion and uncertainty. Thus, our growth, or lack thereof, rests on our shoulders and the decisions we make as receivers of Christ’s good grace. What an honor, but what a great responsibility!
Just as we must till the ground and carefully prepare it for seeds, which we then must water, nurture, and shield from harsh elements. Hence, we are to intentionally tend to the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control Christ has given us (Galatians 5:22-23).
This fruit is a byproduct of the effort that we put in because of the Spirit. Galatians 5:23 even says that without these fruits, “there is no law.” In other words, without these fruits, what of rules and laws? What of loving others? What of anything without God’s nature producing in us the things that bring heaven to earth?
The Easter season brings this truth to the forefront of our hearts and minds as Lent challenges our selfishness, Palm Sunday reminds us of our fickleness, and Good Friday forces us to sit with the heaviness and punishment for our sins.
But Easter Sunday is our perfect reminder of what it means to grow in Christ, to let His resurrection life birth new desires inside of us, the kind of desires that find joy in sacrificing for others and discover the bravery to put sin (especially our little quiet sins that no one else sees) to death.
This doesn’t mean the Christian walk is easy. There is a reason Paul said he dies daily:
“And as for us, why do we endanger ourselves every hour? I face death every day—yes, just as surely as I boast about you in Christ Jesus our Lord. If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus with no more than human hopes, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised, ‘Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.’” (1 Corinthians 15:31-33 NLT)
However, Paul recognizes that there is a deep knowing and a fulfilling satisfaction in surrendering our souls to more. In 1 Corinthians, we see that this “more” is much more than the glittering, short-lived satisfaction of a party life, and it’s even more than all of life’s adventures and thrills, like fighting wild animals and gaining a hero’s glory.
Instead, the true glory, the real, lasting thrill, is our gift and a freedom to grow spiritually, to put to death the sin that steals our joy and purpose, and to become more like the One who is all-lovely. And as Easter brings life, from budding flowers to an empty tomb, we are reminded that it’s our honor to bend to the God who births spring in our hearts.
Let’s pray:
Jesus, thank you for the gift of salvation we have through your life, death, and resurrection. You didn’t just come to die and rise again, but you came to spend intentional time with us, to produce an intimacy between God and man that grants us the gift of becoming more like you. May we never take this gift for granted, and may Easter be a season when we truly reflect on how we use it.
Convict us for leaving this gift on the shelf to collect dust. Forgive us for pulling it off the shelf only when we need something. And spur us on as we unbox it and allow the Holy Spirit to work on our hearts and produce your goodness in us so we can bear witness to the glories of the resurrection you birth inside our hearts.
We praise you for your infinite love, patience, and beauty, Lord. Amen.
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Related Resource: Discouragement Often Comes after Calling | Ezra 3
In this episode of The Bible Explained, Jen walks through Ezra chapter 3 and explores the Israelites’ return from exile as they begin rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem. She highlights how the people, though fearful and greatly outnumbered, chose unity, obedience, and worship by first rebuilding the altar and restoring sacrifices to God. The episode focuses on the emotional moment when the temple foundation is laid—some rejoice with gratitude while others weep, remembering the former temple’s glory. Through passages in Ezra, Haggai, and Zechariah, Jen emphasizes God’s encouragement not to “despise small beginnings,” reminding listeners that God often works through humble starts, difficult seasons, and imperfect circumstances. The episode closes with a practical encouragement: when God calls people to a purpose, opposition and discouragement will come, but faithful perseverance and trust in God’s presence are what carry the work forward. If this podcast helped you understand the Bible in a clearer way, be sure to follow The Bible Explained on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
