Am I Growing… or Am I Gazing?

I’m no longer looking inward to find progress—I’m looking upward, where Christ is, and that’s where I’m truly being changed.

A Conversation About the True Source of Spiritual Growth

“But we all… beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory…” – 2 Corinthians 3:18
“Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith…” – Hebrews 12:2

A Conversation on a Quiet Ride Home

Logan:
Lately I’ve been trying to figure out where I really stand spiritually. Like, am I growing? Am I still stuck in old patterns? I’ve been doing a lot of soul-searching—journaling, evaluating my habits, trying to track my progress. But honestly? The more I examine myself, the more discouraged I feel.

Me:
I used to live there too. Constantly taking spiritual inventory. I’d rate myself by how “on fire” I felt, how consistent I was with quiet time, how often I resisted temptation. It was exhausting. But then the Lord showed me—real sanctification doesn’t come by analyzing me. It comes by beholding Him.

Logan’s View: Honest Self-Examination Is the Path to Growth

Logan looks confused. “But aren’t we supposed to examine ourselves? I mean, Paul says in 2 Corinthians 13:5, ‘Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith.’ And David prayed in Psalm 139, ‘Search me, O God, and know my heart…’”

He flips to a few more verses:

• Lamentations 3:40 – “Let us test and examine our ways…”

• 1 Corinthians 11:28 – “Let a person examine himself…”

• Galatians 6:4 – “Let each one test his own work…”

“I just don’t want to deceive myself,” Logan says. “Isn’t self-awareness part of growing?”

My Response: Let the Light Reveal, Not the Mirror

“Absolutely,” I say, “there’s a place for honest reflection. But the goal of sanctification isn’t to become more self-aware—it’s to become more Christ-aware.”

I turn to 2 Corinthians 3:18 – “Beholding the glory of the Lord, we are being transformed…”
“And Hebrews 12:2 – ‘Fix your eyes on Jesus…’
Notice, the emphasis isn’t on examining ourselves—it’s on beholding Him. That’s where transformation happens.”

I continue, “When you stare in the mirror too long, all you see is what’s wrong. But when you stare at Christ, you begin to see who you truly are in Him. And that’s what changes you—not striving, not self-critique—but Spirit-led revelation of Jesus within you.”

Self-Evaluation vs. Christ-Revelation: A Subtle but Vital Shift

Logan leans back in his seat. “So you’re saying I should just stop thinking about myself?”

“Not ignore,” I clarify. “But shift your gaze. The flesh loves self-evaluation because it keeps you at the center. But the Spirit draws your eyes upward, where Christ is (Col. 3:1–3).”

“When the Spirit convicts, He doesn’t say, ‘Look how far you still have to go.’ He says, ‘Look at Jesus—your life, your righteousness, your identity.’ That’s why real sanctification feels more like freedom than frustration.”

A Grace-Oriented Appeal

If you’ve been asking, “Am I growing?” maybe it’s time to ask a different question:
“Am I beholding?”

True sanctification doesn’t come from measuring your progress or analyzing your behavior. It comes from looking into the face of Jesus and remembering who you are in Him.

As you behold Him, you’re changed—quietly, deeply, supernaturally.
You don’t grow by inspecting yourself. You grow by seeing Jesus.

So today, don’t look in the mirror. Look into His eyes.
He’ll show you who you are—and He’ll shape you into what He’s already declared you to be.

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