Are You Growing?

Oh my gosh, I must admit lately I've been feeling like a girl back in grade school working hard to get my A-Z challenge assignments completed. I could never be glad with an incomplete. Gees let's get to my post.

Babies, flowers, and definitely my grass seem to grow so fast. I've been reflecting on those things needed to ensure healthy growth in our lives. Using each letter of the word grow, I discovered some helpful things to help our spirtitual lives bloom.

G-for Ground. The ground or the type of soil we're planting in hampers or helps the seeds sown. Jesus, Himself illustrated through the parable of the sower the impact the ground of our hearts have on the Word in our lives.

R-for Rain. Just as plants require water, we need the rain of his presence to fall upon us. Life has a way of leaving us burdened, burned, and bare. Searching for water sources to quench our thirst leads us to broken relationships, food addictions, alcohol and drug abuse, promiscuity. All promising to quench our dry places but only leaving us more drained and parched than before.

O-for Opportunities and Obstacles. Yes, I did say obstacles. Obstacles and opportunities for growth present themselves in very obscure ways. Trials and tribulations produce (if there is production, there is growth) something within us according to Romans 5:3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us. They help us learn to endure. And endurance develops strength of character in us, and character strengthens our confident expectation of salvation.  So the next time you find yourself facing and obstacle, remind yourself that you have been granted an opportunity to grow.

W-for Weapons. Oh indeed you need some weapons if you're going to grow. Any good farmer or gardener has specific tools that help him cultivate the ground and gather the harvest. And the devil is just like pests are to plants, he comes to infect and ultimately destroy your growth. Therefore, appropriate pesticides(weapons) are needed. Being as gracious as He is, God has prepared  armor for you to wear so that you might stand against the wiles of the devil. 2 Corinthians 10:4 tells us The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. (NIV)

I pray that the ground of your heart is soft and receptive to God. And when you find that you are harden that you'll allow the rain of His presence to make you supple again. When obstacles and opportunities come along, may you not shrink back in fear but fearlessly forge ahead knowing that God is right at your side and that His equipped you with the weapons to overcome.

See what other g-related topics A-Z Challengers are discussing here.