The BEST Way to Grow Spiritually (The Way Jesus Taught)

Your Journey to Lasting Love Starts Here: https://1truematch.com/

If you've been trying to be more patient, more joyful, and less anxious but still feel stuck, this episode is for you.

Today, we're talking about the secret to lasting spiritual growth and why real transformation starts with your heart, not your behavior. Jesus says in Matthew 12 that "a tree is known by its fruit," but instead of focusing on the fruit, He points us to the roots.

In this episode, you'll learn:

* Why trying harder isn't the answer to lasting change
* How fear, comparison, bitterness, and anxiety take root in our hearts
* Why stress reveals what's already growing inside you
* Simple daily habits that help you grow closer to God

If you've been longing to grow spiritually but don't know why you feel stuck, this conversation will encourage you to stop striving and start staying rooted in Christ.

If this episode encouraged you, share it with someone who needs this reminder today.

Transcript

Welcome Back And A New Question

Speaker 1 0:04

Hello, loves. Welcome back to 1 True Talks. I hope you're having a fantastic week. I am so glad you're here. Last week we talked about what it looks like to trust God while we're waiting. And after we finished that conversation, I just kept reading through Matthew during my quiet time. And I came across one sentence that I couldn't stop thinking about. A tree is known by its fruit. I've heard that verse my whole life.

Speaker 0:42

I've seen it on coffee mods, Instagram, graphics, Bible study, journals.

Speaker 1 0:48

But this week it hit me differently because I realized how much of my life I've spent trying to change my fruit instead of following God to change my roots. I think so many of us wake up every day determined to be a little more patient, a little more joyful, a little more peaceful, and a little less anxious, a little less reactive. And those are wonderful goals. But Jesus doesn't immediately point to behavior, he points to the tree, he points to the heart. And I started wondering what is actually growing inside of us, not what we post, not what people see, not what I hope people think about us. What's actually growing is in our hearts. So let's read this passage

A Tree Is Known By Fruit

Speaker 1 1:56

together. A tree is known by its fruit. Matthew 12 says, either make the tree good and its fruit will be good, or make the tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. Then Jesus continues, a good person produces good things from his storeroom of good. And an evil person produces evil things from his storeroom of evil. I tell you that on the day of judgment, people will have to account for every careless word they speak. For by your words, you will be acquitted, and by your words, you will be condemned. Those are strong words, and yet I don't hear condemnation in them. I hear invitation. Jesus is inviting us to look beneath the surface because we live in a world that is obsessed with appearance. Look successful, look confident, look happy, look like you have it all together. But Jesus has always been more interested in the condition of our hearts than the appearance of our lives. The fruit is not the problem. I think most of us approach our spiritual lives like this. I need to stop worrying. I need to stop comparing myself. I need to stop getting frustrated. I need to be more loving. I need to be more patient. And while those are beautiful desires, Jesus reminds us that fruit is simply evidence of what's happening at the root. Think about a tree for a moment. If the leaves are dry, you don't staple new leaves onto the branches. You examine the roots, you check the soil, you water it, you care for it. Because healthy roots naturally produce healthy fruit. And I wonder how many of us are exhausted because we're trying to manage symptoms instead of surrendering our hearts.

What Are You Feeding Daily

Speaker 1 4:19

Whatever you feed will grow. I have a question for you. What are you feeding? Because whatever we consistently feed is eventually going to grow. If every morning starts with comparison, comparison grows. If every day starts with fear, fear grows. If I'm constantly replaying old hurt or reliving past pain, bitterness grows. If I spend hours consuming negativity, peace becomes hard to find. And this isn't just about social media. It's about everything we follow to take root. The conversations we replay, the lies we believe, the stories we tell ourselves. I'm behind, I'm not good enough. Everyone else is moving forward. God forgot about me. If you water those thoughts every day, we shouldn't be surprised when insecurities begin producing fruit. But the opposite is true too. Time in scripture grows trust, prayer grows dependence on the Lord. Gratitude grows contentment. Worship grows joy. Community grows encouragement. Every single day we're wiring something. The question is: what kind of tree are we becoming?

Overflow Reveals The Heart

Speaker 1 5:56

The overflow. One sentence especially stopped me this week. For the mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart, not the overflow of our circumstances. The overflow of our heart, I think that's why stressful seasons reveal so much about us. When we're tired, what comes out? When we're disappointed, what comes out? When someone hurts us, what comes out? When life doesn't go according to plan, what comes out? Because pressure doesn't create what's inside of us, it reveals it. And instead of feeling shame when we see imperfection or fear or anger come to the service, maybe God is simply saying, Now you know what I want to heal. What an incredible act of grace.

What God Grows While You Wait

Speaker 1 7:02

What God is growing while you wait. Last week we talked about waiting, waiting for love, waiting for healing, waiting for breakthrough. And I couldn't help but think, maybe God isn't just preparing the answer. Maybe he's preparing us. Maybe while we're praying for a relationship, he's growing fruitfulness. Maybe while we're praying for clarity, he's growing trust. Maybe while we're praying for the next season, he's growing contentment in this one. Maybe he's producing fruit that will sustain us long after the prayer is answered. Because the greatest gift God can give us isn't just changing circumstances, it's a transformation of a transformed heart. And here's what I love: fruit grows slowly. You don't plant a seed on Monday and expect a mature tree by Friday. Growth is often quiet, almost invisible, but that doesn't mean nothing is happening. Maybe you've been fruitful in prayer, fruitful in church, fruitful in scripture, fruitful in service, and you don't feel any different. Can I encourage you? Keep showing up. God is doing more beneath the surface than you can see from your point of view.

Simple Practices To Stay Rooted

Speaker 1 8:42

Stay rooted. So here's my challenge for all of us this week. Instead of focusing on producing more fruit, focus on your roots. Spend 10 minutes with Jesus before you pick up your phone. Read one chapter of Matthew. Turn worship music on in the car. Pray while you're making coffee. Take a walk and thank God for the little things. Stay connected to the one who changes hearts. Because here's the beautiful truth. Apple trees don't strain to produce apples. Healthy trees naturally produce healthy fruit. And when our roots are planted in Christ, love begins to grow. Joy begins to grow. Peace begins to grow with patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Not because we're trying harder, but because we're staying closer. So in conclusion, I want to leave you with one question. If someone spent one week with you, what kind of fruit would they experience? Would they leave feeling encouraged, seen, safe, loved, peaceful, joyful? Or would they encounter anxiety, criticism, comparison, fear, and frustration? Not as a reason to feel guilty, but as an invitation to come back to Jesus. Because every single morning, he offers us fresh mercy, fresh grace, fresh soil of new growth.

Prayer For Deeper Healing

Speaker 1 10:42

Father, thank you for caring more about our hearts than our appearances. Thank you that you are patient with our growth and gentle with our weakness. Help us stop trying to manufacture fruit and instead remain rooted in you. Expose the places where fear has taken root. Heal the places where disappointment has hardened us. Replace comparison with contentment. Replace anxiety with peace. Replace striving with trust. And as we spend time with you, may our lives naturally begin to reflect your love, your joy, your kindness to the world around us. Thank you that you never give up on us and you're always doing deeper work than we can see. We love you in Jesus' name. Amen.

Final Challenge And Subscribe

Speaker 1 11:51

Thank you for spending this time with me. This week, don't worry so much about looking for a healthy tree. Just stay rooted in Jesus because healthy roots always produce beautiful fruit. And I will see you next week on 1 True Talks. Subscribe and share this episode with anybody that you think it will touch. I hope you have a wonderful and blessed week. God bless.