How is Your Spiritual Garden Growing?

 

By: Donna Bucher

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us”

Hebrews 12:1

 

We often take spiritual growth for granted. After becoming Christians we go to church, read our Bibles, pray and trust God to complete the good work He began in us. (Philippians 1:6)But God's purpose for every believer is steady spiritual growth which requires work on our part in tending our spiritual garden. Are you growing spiritually? Do you feel sluggish or stuck in your spiritual walk? Let's head to the garden and learn an important practice for a healthy spiritual garden.

As any good gardener will tell you, a beautiful garden requires work! As we plant and sow seeds in our physical gardens, so we plant and sow seeds of faith in our spiritual gardens.

Growing a Garden Requires Skills

My grandmother loved geraniums and had them all over her house. Today, you can find various shades of reds and pinks, but back then, red geraniums ruled the roost. Her geraniums bloomed all year round. One day she told me her secret: deadheading. As you may know, deadheading is the process of removing spent blossoms from a plant to encourage further blooming. Not all plants require deadheading, but geraniums and African violets, my second favorite house plant do.

 

Once I learned this little trick, my geraniums and African violets were the envy of all who saw them. I learned to deadhead other plants in my garden, roses, daisies, lavender and echinacea are a few. As I learned from houseplants and my garden perennials; when deadheading is neglected, they cease to bear flowers.

I realized my spiritual life suffers in the same way. I grow content with the current progress of my growth and service, neglecting the initiative necessary for the robust spiritual growth God expects. The faded blooms of past growth remain, hindering new growth.

 

Spiritual Deadheading

Sitting with the question, "Are you growing spiritually", brought conviction for my lack of diligence in tending my spiritual garden. Join me in Hebrews 12:1-2 for some biblical tips on spiritual deadheading.

Growing Diligence

In order for diligence to grow, we must remove carelessness, laziness or indifference. Growing content with your spiritual progress, you fall prey to delusion, thinking you accomplished enough. (James 1:22-25) As Hebrews reminds us, we run a race; which requires dedication and diligence to reach the finish line.

 

Growing Encouragement

Growing encouragement necessitates the removal of hindrances. Things hindering our spiritual growth certainly point to sin, but also those things sapping our energy, attention and time for godly pursuits. Examine how you spend your free time, your money and your talents. God gives us good things for enjoyment, but when the enjoyment becomes the focal point, it hinders our spiritual growth. (1 John 2:15-17)

 

Growing Perseverance

If you desire the cultivation of perseverance, remove uncertainty and indecisiveness. Inconsistency in Bible reading and prayer also causes us to waver in our commitment to growth. Our race is one of endurance which requires steadfast determination even when things get tough. (2 Timothy 2:3-4)

 

How Is YOUR Spiritual Garden Growing?

Noticing the stagnant blooms in my life hindering the new growth God desired for me, prompted renewed diligence in keeping my spiritual garden, encouragement free of hindrances, and perseverance in the steadfast nurturing of my faith. All reminders for avoiding spiritual complacency and contentment with the status quo.

How is YOUR spiritual garden growing?

Find more encouragement and FREE Resources at Serenity in Suffering!

 

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