Author: steps2successwithspiritualsolutions

The headline on the front cover of the Better Homes and Garden Magazine read, “It’s Grow Time.” Beautiful flowers in an array of colors announced the arrival of the planting season.

Many are still experiencing cold temperatures in April. Remember, winter cannot last forever. Yes, waiting for spring is a time of mental and emotional endurance. But there is a significant purpose for the winter season. Our plant kingdom requires a resting period for new growth. Energy increases during the rest.

Winter is good for the world around us. Many plants need shorter days and low temperatures to become dormant. This way plants can store up energy for new growth. If a fruit tree doesn’t have enough chilling time, it will produce fewer, weaker buds. Impactnews.com

Our physical bodies also require adequate rest. Not only does our mental and emotional psyches require adequate rest and relaxation, we cannot experience spiritual growth without sufficient energy reserves.

Why is it essential that we have the physical energy to grow spiritually? The state of “being tired” is detrimental to the mind and body. Feeling weary cancels our desire to give God adequate praise and worship. Honestly, who feels like praying for the anointing of the Holy Spirit to study the Bible when you are irritable due to exhaustion?

The Root Cause of Depleted Energy Reserves

The dynamics of our world are ever-changing. Our priority is to achieve innovative technological advancements, which lead to mental burn-out. Many people live their entire day in front of a screen [IPhones, IPads, Smart Phones, Laptops, Televisions]. Screen life has become a norm. But the impact has affected our Circadian rhythm: 24-hour cycles that are part of the body’s internal clock, running in the background, which allow us to carry out essential functions. Either we fall asleep from exhaustion or suffer from insomnia.

“When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.” 1 Corinthians 13:11

The lack of physical rest also causes us to act like children. We are bombarded with stimuli that fail to promote mental, emotional, or spiritual growth. Our culture has evolved from controlling our emotional responses to a dominant characteristic of uncontrolled emotional reactions. We live in a world of immature human beings who are proud of their feelings. Attempting to locate individuals who can respond with logical and rational thought processes is nearly non-existent.

Characteristics of Spiritual Growth

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering [patience], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23.

The Apostle Paul was certainly an expert on the devastation of acting on emotional responses. Before his spiritual transformation from Saul to Paul, he killed many early Christians–he felt that he was doing the right thing.

Overstimuli, lack of physical rest, uncontrolled emotions, and pride has suffocated our desire to grow spiritually. Throughout the Bible, God has defined the spiritual change required for Christian believers. It is the Holy Spirit who enables us to change.

Self-effort can never produce the characteristics that God requires us to have. To receive the reward of eternal life, we must experience daily spiritual growth and development–Sanctification [the likeness of Jesus].

Yes, it’s growing time.

Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God… (1 Corinthians 13:11)

Prayer: God, we ask for the forgiveness of our sins caused by uncontrolled emotions. We pray for the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Please teach us how to have the character of Christ. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Can you recall your first important assignment? The overwhelming excitement gives us the courage to anticipate a successful outcome. With increased responsibilities, one may have a healthy level of anxiety. Yet, self-confidence propels us forward as we set out to prove our abilities.

What about the small tasks? Are we just as excited to be asked to do the grunge tasks?

Chris Caine of Propel Women shares a powerful testimony of twenty-plus years being asked by her Pastor to be a driver for Joyce Meyer. At the time, Chris was a successful Youth Pastor of a large church. With humility, she readily accepted the assignment. The outcome included having Joyce Meyer as a friend and spiritual mentor who encouraged and advised her to begin Propel Women.

Do you have a testimony of how God used your small act of service to perform a tremendous blessing?

I can recall a position that I accepted as a Clinical Supervisor with the responsibilities of making home supervisory visits. I usually waited until the last 10 minutes of the nurse or home health aide visit to observe the interaction between the healthcare worker and the patient. My final supervisory visit was at 4:30 pm with a patient who had a previous fall with an injury history. It had been a long day, and I eagerly looked forward to 5 pm.

As we were chatting, she relayed that her daughter, who usually arrived at 5 pm, was running late due to heavy traffic. Her following statement, ” I am so sorry to ask you this, because you are the supervisor, but can you help me walk to the bathroom?” Yes, I assisted the patient, and once she was safely back to bed, I explained that I became a nurse to render care to patients regardless of my position. It was 5:30 when I left her home, yet, I felt a burst of renewed energy.

The Blessing: Our company’s patient census growth was slow. Within one week, we began to receive many patient referrals from the patient’s physician because of the desire to serve. 

Our Calling: A Life of Servitude

Moses was raised by the pharaoh’s daughter and next in succession to become the Pharaoh of Egypt. Yet, when God called to him…”He said, ‘Here I am.'” (Exodus 3:4). David was anointed by the prophet Samuel to become King as a teenager. Yet, he lived as a fugitive warrior in caves for 15 years until God’s appointed time for Him to replace King Saul [At the approximate age of 30].

Our most remarkable example of servitude was from Jesus. He gave up Divinity to become human. Jesus was born in a stable for animals and placed in a manger [a feeding trough]. His ministry required learning obedience, leaving the home of His loving parents, and homelessness. “Jesus replied, ‘Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.'” (Matthew 8:20).

Assimilation of the Be Successful Mindset

The world-view is to pursue success, enjoy entertaining pleasures, possess career and social status, expensive assets, a stable investment portfolio, and money. Jesus places our priority on serving, “But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Matthew 23:11-12)

“Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'” (Matthew 25:37‭-‬40)

In the Scriptures, we have received the spiritual standards of service as defined by God. It is the desire to render menial, insignificant tasks of alleviating the burdens and suffering of people [not philanthropy or random acts of kindness] that indicate our relationship of love with Christ.

Studying the Scriptures, especially the life of Jesus, enables us to change our perspective of the small, menial tasks. A purpose-driven life for a Christian reflects continual service to God and others.

Prayer: God, we confess that our priorities do not include serving You and others. We pray for forgiveness for seeking prosperity and recognition. Please reveal our purpose and how we can help. In Jesus’s name, we pray. Amen.