“For as the earth produces its growth and as a garden enables what is sown to spring up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.”
Isaiah 61:11 HCSB
Sunlight peeks through the trees, warming the soil in my garden where planting awaits. This is my chance to dig out the old for something new and make improvements to last season’s failures.
In the same way, the Lord is giving each of us an opportunity today to start anew; to make changes; to grow.
The possibility of growth kept returning to my mind recently as I spent time outside working on my garden, so much so that I know God is asking me to look at this area of my life. I had to question, where am I when it comes to growing with God – flourishing or still hiding underneath the soil?
Suddenly, the answer was right there before me. I just finished an article on God’s ability to turn bad into good (click here to read), yet I was reluctant to push my story out into the public forum of social media. Thirty minutes of typing and retyping my Instagram post brought me to this realization: I have yet to grow past my tendency to worry first before trusting God.
I can see clearly that I am still holding on to pieces of myself that I handed over to Jesus years ago.
I decided soon after to explore how to plant seeds of growth with God on a regular basis because I no longer want to be stuck in a place where the chance for growth is slim.
What I am finding through this process of evaluation is that in order to see growth there has to be a willingness to plant a new seed, not just once, but again and again.
God’s desire is for us to grow in our faith, and for it to be such a noticeable and continuous growth that those around us want to know more.
We have to be active in our walk with God to make this happen.
Join me in this devotional that will reveal steps you can take to experience ongoing growth in your spiritual walk with God.
Step 1: Plant The Seed Of Forgiveness
The first step God is showing me that is vital to growth is to break away from the past. We must take the time to pull out old roots and leave them behind.
Scripture confirms the value in this:
“…let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and protector of our faith, who for the joy that lay before Him endured a cross and despised the shame and has sat down at the right hand of God’s thrown. ”
Hebrews 12:1-2 HCSB
When the Lord calls on us to lay aside every weight, I believe He is not only referring to leaving behind our own mistakes and sins, but also any unforgiveness that remains in our hearts. If we are heavy with hurt from yesterday, there is no way we can grow today.
Let us look ahead and focus on Jesus by letting go of everything that is holding us back.
Take the first step and consider the following …
- Is there someone you need to forgive? Or maybe you thought you did forgive them, but when you see them, your heart puts up a wall in defense.
- Have you forgiven yourself for the times you’ve failed?
Come before Jesus in this moment and ask for His forgiveness for anything that you are holding onto that is not from Him, then forgive others who have caused you pain. Lastly, and sometimes most difficult, forgive yourself for any wrongs you have committed.
You no longer have to walk carrying the weight of what used to be.
Forgiveness allows us to be more open to God’s Word because our focus has changed and this is key to growing with God.
Step 2: Grow Without Worry
The Lord has left us the very seed we need to keep growing with Him – His Word. Now, more than ever, I understand why God’s Word is referred to as “the seed.”
His Word grows within us, it becomes rooted in our soul so that when trouble arises there is a strong core that can’t be moved.
The world is going to push us around though. From all the emotional distress life brings to the every daily battles we face, there will continue to be a great testing of our will. Hearts can become hardened if we are not careful. This is why it is essential to stay in God’s Word day in and day out, receiving it with a renewed heart that isn’t bogged down by the past or by worries.
“Now the one sown among the thorns – this is one who hears the word, but the worries of this age and the seduction of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. But the one sown on the good ground – this is one who hears and understands the word, who does bear fruit and yields: some 100, some 60, some 30 times what was sown.”
Matthew 13:22-23 HCSB
When we begin to trust God more, depending on His wisdom and peace, there is a shift that takes place.
The uncertainty that worry builds starts to come down and we can receive the word with newfound clarity. The knowledge we gain from God’s word is alive within us and we can then spread that word to others by planting this same seed of knowledge we have gained.
Letting go of worry is one of the most challenging tasks, but every time I turn the worry over to Jesus, I actually feel more stable and secure. This is the shift, from shaky ground to solid ground.
Jesus leaves us with a simple question:
“Can any of you add a cubit to his height by worrying?”
Luke 12:25
The answer is no, yet worry can rule over us in many ways if we allow it to do so.
Do not let worry find a home within your heart. Instead, ask Jesus to help you grow without worry here and now.
Challenge yourself with this next step …
- Write down three things you are worried about.
- Now envision handing each of those worries to Jesus.
- Replace those worries with the Lord’s truth every day.
- Lord, I trade in my worries for your peace.
- Lord, I trade in my doubts for your wisdom.
- Lord, I trade in my anger for your joy.
- Lord, I trade in my health issues for your strength.
Your faith is growing right now as you actively hand over these worries to the Lord.
Step 3: Continue To Make Progress Through Gratitude
The phrase Thank You, Jesus might seem so simple, but it changes everything.
To plant the seed of gratitude brings about a new sense of humility.
Start to give thanks in every season, whether you are facing a mountain or feeling settled in your life, because this habit has the power to switch your viewpoint.
As I am getting older and my disability is challenging me in unexpected ways, there are moments where I want to throw in the towel and not show up. I have, in fact, let my situation deter me from God’s plan because of negative thinking. I am currently changing this by giving thanks to Jesus for being there for me through it all.
“Rejoice always! Pray constantly. Give thanks in everything, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 HCSB
When I am in pain, I give thanks to Jesus for allowing me to still function and be independent. On the days I feel lonely, I thank Jesus for His presence in my life.
Every time I give thanks to the Lord, He helps me move forward when I thought I couldn’t. I am truly amazed by the Lord each and every time this happens.
Take one minute to be still and begin to give thanks …
- Thank you Jesus for blessing me with …
- Thank you Jesus for helping me with …
- Thank you Jesus for providing me with …
Jesus is always by our side and we must not take that for granted.
Through daily gratitude, our inner strength grows, along with new qualities like empathy and patience for others.
Plant In Every Season
As we are just days away from Easter, I believe there is no better time than this to check in with Jesus, make improvements, and praise Him for all He has done to guide us.
May this devotional bring forth the importance of planting the ways of Jesus into our hearts and minds so we can continue to make progress on the pathway He has set before us.
Have a willing heart that forgives, leave worry behind, and give thanks to the Lord, always.
Practice each of these steps daily, weekly, or revisit them monthly to keep life focused on living for Jesus instead of falling into our own ways of living.
Please share any suggestions you think are helpful when it comes to growing with God in the comment section below.
Happy Easter! He is Risen!
Absolutely outstanding. Danette, you are helping so many people. I look forward to your blogs and they help me so much. Especially this one as I face my health challenges. Thank you my beautiful friend. 😘❤️🙏