Living the life God intended

Hi how are you today? I am on my way back from holidays. I saw so many new things. It was great. From the reef to the rainforest. I saw amazing gorges where water had carved into rock. I saw animals and reef creatures. I was immersed in culture through bush tucker, dancing and demonstrations. It was a great week.

My photo today comes from this trip. All of my blog photos are ones that I have personally taken over the years.

As I was walking through the rainforest, the guide showed us two trees. The first was so tall but it only grows one metre per year. I think he said it was over 400 years old. The other was a different variety and it was a lot smaller. It grows one centimetre a year until it turns 40 then it grows 3 centimetres per year. It had been there just over 40 years. I want to talk about the latter tree.

As the guide was talking I was reminded of the scripture that says precept upon precept, line upon line. It is found in Isaiah 28:10. This is how we walk with God. Sometimes we don’t see how much we are growing in God and in His Word but then we look back and we see a centimetre. Another verse that talks about this concept is found in 2 Corinthians 3:18. I like the Message version which in the last part states: We’re free of it! All of us! Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the brightness of his face. And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him.

As we spend time in the Bible, in prayer and in church, we will grow until we become like Jesus. That is our goal.

Sometimes, however,we then look at others lives and are sure they have grown so much more. But sometimes people grow really fast in the Word of God. Then a little while later we see them and they have stopped. Why? Discouragement- they aren’t growing as fast as before so they stop seeking God because He wants them to go deeper but they can’t because they haven’t taken the time for their roots to grow deep. Their roots are shallow and easily pulled up by the things of the world. Maybe they only looked like they were growing fast but only on top.

God wants our roots to go down deep with Him. We may only be growing a centimetre on the surface but underneath our roots are growing deeper- seeking more of the water of the Word.

Today if you feel discouraged by your surface growth- don’t be. You are still growing forward in God and even though it is only a little bit, one day you will look back and see a strong tree growing by the rivers of water (Gods Word) standing tall and strong.

I encourage you today to keep growing forward and keep living the life God intended for you.

Bless you heaps

Karen