Recently, my sons and daughters took me on a stroll down memory lane, playing children’s songs and shows that they liked when they were very young. We had so much fun doing that! As we listened to the cheesy songs, at one point, my 18-year-old daughter Kaiah’s eyes grew wide. “Wow!” she said. “When I was little, I thought the singers sounded like normal people, but they actually sound like babies!”

I laughed at her genuine shock as she explained, “It’s so weird to me that they sound so young, and I didn’t notice that.”

Kaiah’s realization led to a discussion about how, as children, we perceive things in a totally different way; as we grow and mature, we evolve.

For instance, yesterday, a song from the 80’s popped into my head out of the blue, and my 21-year-old daughter Kyla found it on YouTube and played it. Not even halfway through, she and her siblings cracked up laughing and told me how “horrible” the song was. I laughed too and had to admit that, yeah, it was pretty bad. But as an adolescent, I thought the song was nothing short of amazing. My, how my tastes have changed over time.

The words of Paul the Apostle in 1 Corinthians 13:11 NLT seem fitting here: “When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things.” In life, we outgrow things, both naturally and spiritually. The very things that once captivated us no longer do, and what used to stimulate us doesn’t anymore—which is a good thing. We aren’t supposed to remain stagnant. We should go through an evolution.

Even Jesus evolved, and we see it happen in Luke 2:41–52. At the time, Jesus was 12 years old, and Mary and Joseph unknowingly left Him behind in Jerusalem. Once they discovered He wasn’t with them, they turned back to look for Jesus. They searched for three days, and finally, He was discovered in the temple, with the teachers of the law, engaging them in deep theological discourse. Jesus was listening, asking questions and also giving answers to the religious leaders. All who witnessed this were amazed by His understanding and wisdom, including Mary and Joseph.

They had never seen this side of Jesus who was at a major turning point in His life. Age 12 marks the Jewish boy’s final year of preparation before crossing over into manhood and fully embracing religious life. In Jewish culture, at the end of a boy’s 12th year, he becomes a bar mitzvah, meaning "son of the commandment,” and he takes on the yoke of the law. We know that Jesus’ public ministry began at around age 30, but well before He revealed Himself as the Messiah, He went through significant changes.

As a disciple of Christ, on your journey of faith, you will go through significant changes too. This is a necessary part of your preparation as God gets you ready to fulfill your destiny. The nearer you draw to the Lord, the more He refines you and changes you.

And at the appointed time, you will step into a new season. After He develops you in obscurity, matures you in adversity, and refines you in the fire of affliction, He catapults you into destiny. When you step out, you will be fully equipped to do, become, and possess all He has for you. Get ready. Your time is coming soon to go to the next level of victory, breakthrough, favor and purpose!

Know that good things are on the horizon for you, though you do not always understand your process. Even so, when God is finished processing you, you will be immeasurably more blessed. You will look back and realize that without the process, you would not have made that much progress.

Friend, stay the course. Continue following Jesus every day, and stay submitted to His will. By doing this, you set yourself up to receive major benefits.

Today, I’m stirring John 12:26 NASB into your cup of inspiration, which says, "If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.”

As you drink down the contents of your cup, know that God will honor your faithfulness and commitment to Him, and He will transform you into the vessel of honor He has called you to be. Your time is coming soon. Hang in there!

Now, let’s pray.

God, thank You for growing and developing me and positioning me to fulfill Your purpose. As I follow You, I know You are getting me ready for great things and positioning me to receive the manifold blessings You have in store for me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you desire prayer, please allow me, along with my intercessory prayer team, to stand in faith with you for breakthrough. We would be so honored. We have seen God work over and over again. There is power in agreement. Click here to request prayer now.

As always, thanks for reading and until next time... may today's cup of inspiration uplift, encourage, and empower you!