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I sit here this morning with a cup of tea and a grateful heart. My faith has been challenged and through this there has been a period of growing my faith.
I had a rough couple of days this week. A few days that were full of fears, tears, insecurities and unresolved hurt. The pain inside my heart was overwhelming and I felt isolated and alone. I had to fight the negative thoughts and messages that rolled through my brain several times a day — ok — sometimes several times a minute. Have you ever had a day (or days) that were emotionally overwhelming? Has there been moments that you thought you were going to break in two because the hurt and the pain were so intense? Did it ever feel like it was never going to end and that there was no solution?
My Faith
It is during these moments of intense feelings of hurt, anger, frustration and despair that I am reminded of my faith. I am so grateful for my faith as it has helped me through so many moments of darkness in my life. In fact, I often wonder how people get through the trials and struggles of life without it. I am aware that people define faith in various ways. My faith can be explained simply — it’s my relationship with Jesus Christ. I know that some people have strong feelings about this in one way or another and I am not really here to debate. It’s not about religion to me or lack of religion — it’s simply all about relationship.
My relationship with God is what nurtures my faith. The more time I spend with a Him in prayer and in a His word the greater my faith becomes.
In order for my faith to grow and to not wither away and die, I need to be active in cultivating it and in taking care of it once it is cultivated.
Growing My Faith
I have learned that I am responsible for my own faith. It can not be given to me by others and it can not be purchased at one of the big box stores that sell everything. It’s not a thing Costco carries and it’s not at the local bar and grill. Faith is like a seed that is planted in the ground in the spring time. For me it started when I searched for purpose in my life and after many trials and errors and dead end roads I finally found it. It was tiny but to me it was the biggest thing in the world.
Once I found the little seed, I became responsible for protecting that seed and for nurturing it to grow. When we plant a seed in the ground at springtime we don’t just dig a hole in the dirt, drop the seed, cover and walk away. We don’t expect it to grow into something without any care and maintenance. That seed needs attention. It needs watering and sunshine. Once it starts growing it may need weeding and fertilizing. It may also need some pruning. My faith needs all those things too.
Watering
1. My faith requires watering. I water my faith by reading God’s Word and by listening to teachers that teach me His Word. It is food for my soul and without food it will start to wither away.
Sonshine
2. My faith requires “Sonshine”. It needs time spent with the Lord. It is during this time that my faith starts to really grow and take shape. Spending time with the Lord is sitting in His presence. Sometimes it’s just sitting quietly with Him and sometimes it’s communicating with Him through prayer.
Weeding
3. Often my faith requires some weeding. This isn’t always pleasant as it means that I may get dirty. It involves a close look at my life and searching for the areas that are getting in the way of the victorious life that God desires for me. This involves getting rid of bitterness and resentments. It may mean looking at the habits that are interfering with my wellbeing. Sometimes it involves letting go of things that at one time gave me comfort and security only to realize that it was robbing me of peace and contentment. Often it means choosing to forgive whether it be towards others, myself or even (gasp) God.
Pruning
4. Much like weeding my faith will have times when it needs some pruning. This can be painful and uncomfortable, however if I hang on He will help me through it and in the end I will be much better off. God prunes me through conviction, that small voice that leads, guides and corrects me. I often refer to it as my God conscience. Sometimes the pruning occurs through circumstances and how I respond to them. This is the time when God is helping me walk In the fruits of the Spirit. He challenges me to see which fruit I need to work on – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, or self control. Finally, He prunes me by leading me to step out of my comfort zone in service of others.
Fertilizing
5. My faith requires that it needs to be fertilized. We give plants fertilizer to give it more nutrients for optimal growth. There are various ways that I can fertilize my faith so that it will have the ability to mature into optimal growth. Once again it requires action on my part. These ways include the following:
~ attend church and worship services
~ be mindful of what I am watching on television, at the movie theatre and listening to on the radio
~ watch podcasts online
~ do self bible study
~ be mindful of books I read and music I listen to
~ attend conferences
~ get involved with a small group in my church
~ fellowship with others of the same faith and build relationships
WHAT IS GODS WORD SAYING TO ME TODAY?
~ “I am the true Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that continues to bear fruit, He [repeatedly] prunes, so that it will bear more fruit [even richer and finer fruit]”. ~ John 15:1-2 amp
~ “But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us], is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law”. ~ Galatians 5:22-23 amp
~ “For we live by faith, not by sight”. ~ 2 Corinthians 5:7 amp
Blossoming
Today I am thankful for the growing of my faith. I would be lying if I said this process is easy, because it isn’t. That said, the rewards are amazing and worth every ounce of effort and every feeling of being uncomfortable. I wish I could tell you that you only have to go through the process once in your life. The truth is that in order to grow in your faith and blossom, it is an ongoing process. Today I choose to continue to take action towards growing in my faith. Like the seed that is planted in the ground to produce a beautiful flower, may God take my faith seed, and as I nurture it, may I also continue to blossom into a beautiful woman.
My hope is that you will take action with your seed. It doesn’t matter how big or small it is, all that matters is a desire for it to grow and a wee bit of courage to take action to nourish it. May you blossom into the beautiful woman that God has designed you to be. I am cheering you on.
What are you thankful for today? Drop me a comment. I would love to hear from you.
Be blessed 💞💞💞
I love all your inspiring posts!! Thank you for sharing, it brightens my day!
Thank you for your kind words. Blessings
Such a great reminder of how to strengthen and grow our Faith with the Lord. I am greatful for the garden I have planted. It has shown me many analogies like you have shared about my faith. Too often our faith can get stagnate and lose it’s bibrant life. Thank you for the reminder to truly cultivate and work on our faith.
Great post! Photos are so lively and perfect for it!
Thank you for sharing this encouraging post. I was just reading this very passage in Romans 10, specifically verse 17 “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” when I then read your post and it said the same thing. It’s a good, helpful reminder of how to grow our faith.
I often tell myself if I keep getting the same message over again — I better pay attention as it’s something that God really wants me to know. Thank you for sharing as it reminded me of how I need to pay closer attention. Blessings.
The gardening comparison is such a great analogy! Such a simple and understandable way to put it.
Thank you. Blessings to you.
Beautiful, Shelley! The nurturing analogy for our walk with God is close to my heart, right down to the weeding and pruning. Those are times of great growth. Blessed to read your words today!
Thank you for your kind words. Blessings as you continue to press forward and grow in Him.
This is so beautiful! God has been doing mighty works in my life and faith over the last couple of years. And it can be so hard at times. But when you get on the other side of these situations and your faith is just a little stronger, it is well worth it!
Thank you so much for the beautiful post!
I would love to have you link up with us at the Live Life Well link up!
Blessings,
Amy
So true — I remind myself of this when I am walking through a storm in my life. What is the love life well link up? Blessings.