And He said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”
- Mark 4:26-29 NKJV

The plants and flowers don’t grow by worrying or by being anxious or by trying really hard. Actually, they grow by simply receiving from God what He makes available to them. In a similar manner, a child cannot, by any anxiety or power of its own, become any taller. Likewise, we are unable to grow by anxiety or effort, and this is also true of our spiritual growth. The plant as well as the child grows by receiving from its surroundings that which ministers to their life—air, sunshine, and food.

“What these gifts of nature are to animal and plant, such is Christ to those who trust in Him. He is their “everlasting light,” “a sun and shield.” Isaiah 60:19; Psalm 84:11. He shall be as “the dew unto Israel.” “He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass.” Hosea 14:5; Psalm 72:6. He is the living water, “the Bread of God ... which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.” John 6:33.”
- Steps to Christ p67

Jesus uses birth and growth to help us understand spiritual truths. Notice Jesus’ words to Nicodemos in John 3.

Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
- John 3:3 NKJV

However, the illustration does not stop at birth. As important as the new birth is, growth is also very important. As I mentioned earlier, however, growth does not come by our anxiety or effort. I remember one day walking by a field full of sunflowers. I was amazed at how all of them were facing the same direction, all those big, tall, flowers, were facing the sun.

I believe there is a powerful spiritual lesson here. The same way that those sunflowers turned to the sun, in order to receive what they needed to grow in beauty and symmetry, so should we turn to Jesus, the Sun of Righteousness, that heaven's light may shine upon us, that our character may be developed into the likeness of Christ. Jesus talks about spiritual growth and bearing fruit in John 15.

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 
- John 15:5NKJV

You are as dependent upon Christ for spiritual growth as the branch is dependent upon the parent stock for growth and fruitfulness. It impossible for you to live a holy life apart from Jesus. Apart from Him, you have no life. You have no power to resist temptation or to grow in grace and holiness. While you remain in Jesus, you will grow and bear fruit. As you continue to draw your life from Him, you will never wither or be fruitless. You will be like a tree planted by the rivers of water. (Psalm 1:3)

Some have the unbiblical idea that they need Jesus only for the forgiveness of their sins and that they must somehow, by their own efforts, live a life of obedience. This is impossible, all human efforts apart from Jesus are doomed to fail.

David understood this, even though he never met Jesus.

I have set the Lord always before me;
Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.
- Psalm 16:8 NKJV

Paul also understood this. That’s why he calls us to fix our eyes upon Jesus, the author, and finisher of our faith. (Hebrews 12:2) Jesus does not only begin the process then walks away. He must be present at every step. We need Jesus at the beginning, then every single day, all day, all the way to the end. For the Christian walk Jesus is first, last, and always.

As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 
- Colossians 2:6 NKJV

So here is what this looks like in a practical way. First, you must to give all,—your heart, your will, your service,—give yourself to Jesus to obey all His requirements. Second, you must take all,—Christ, the fullness of all blessings, to live in your heart, to be your strength, your righteousness, your everlasting helper,—to give you the power to live according to His will.

Consecrate yourself to God in the morning; this should be the very first thing you do in the morning. Here’s a sample prayer you might want to try.

“Take me, O Lord, as wholly Yours. I lay all my plans at Your feet. Use me today in Your service. Remain with me, and let all my work be accomplished in You.”

This is a daily matter. This means that each morning we must consecrate ourselves to God for that day. We must surrender all our plans to Him, to be carried out or given up as His providence will indicate. This way day by day we will be giving our life into the hands of God, and this way our life will be molded more and more after the life of Christ. 

A life in Christ is a life of restfulness, a life of peaceful trust. After all, our hope is not in ourselves; but in Christ. 

Jesus said,

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 
Matthew 11:28 NKJV

For thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel:

“In returning and rest you shall be saved;
In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.”
But you would not,
- Isaiah 30:15 NKJV

Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Matthew 11:29-30 NKJV