Spring has given way to Summer, and the flowers are blooming, grass is growing, pollen is aggravating everyone with allergies, and the winter clothes in the closet must be switched to lighter‐weight summer duds. I dread moving the warm clothes to the guest room bedroom closet and moving the cooler clothes into the bedroom closet for use!

Please don’t misunderstand ‐‐ I like the clothes I have. I don’t dread the clothes per se. I dread looking at last season’s clothing and wondering if there is any possibility that I will be able to get into them this summer!

But the sad truth is that the older I have gotten, the wider I have become. (Wish that word could be “wiser” instead of “wider”!)  In short, many of the clothes from earlier years just do not fit.

When sorting through the closet, some of the clothes are put in the pile to take to the rescue shelter. Others are about the right size so I expect that I can wear them this year. But then there is the third pile — the “keep” pile even though I recognize that they no longer fit (and likely will never fit again). Why are they “keepers”? Because if I am going through a difficult time, they are my “comfort” clothes whether or not they look good on me at the time.

While gaining weight is not a good thing for me physically, the task of switching the clothes in my closet made me wonder about my “fit” spiritually?

• Am I still the same spiritual size I was last year?
• Am I still struggling with the same issues, the same sins, the same negative attitudes that I had last year or have I grown?
• Is the work of the Holy Spirit evident?
• Am I using the gifts that He has provided more fully today than last year?
• Am I walking closer to Him, depending and trusting in His providence rather than my own planning?
• Am I studying His Word and learning of His wisdom and guidance for me in my life?
• Can others tell that my faith is deeper and my love for the Lord is stronger?
• Have I grown more into the likeness of my Savior this past year?

Just as we grow in our physical bodies, growing is mandatory in the spiritual realm. In 2 Thessalonians 1:3, Paul states:

We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing.

So, what size was that? As I focus on decreasing my physical size, my prayer is that I will be able to concentrate on increasing my spiritual size!  Scripture promises that I have a Helper in this effort – the Holy Spirit is on hand to guide, prompt and enable me to grow spiritually.

Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever! 1 Chronicles 16:34.

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; Lamentations 3:22

Praise the Lord oh my soul!