A Balanced Spiritual Diet - Tuesday Praise & Pray (for others) August 24, 2021

One of my favorite summer past times involves nurturing plants. It can be tough when the pests or local critters decide your plants are tasty. Still, I've learned to deal with God's creatures as best I can.

Recently, while pruning some lavender, I looked at two dead lavender plants I never discarded. They'd spent most of their life indoors receiving adequate water but not enough light and definitely, not enough fresh air. The lavender plants I was pruning, however, were thriving. These two had spent their entire life outdoors, enjoying rainwater, loads of sunlight, and of course, as much fresh breeze as mother nature deemed fit to give them.

I couldn't help but think of these plants in terms of the spiritual journey with the Lord. To me, they are a clear indication that to thrive, a 'balanced diet' is required. For my lavender, they needed water, sunshine and some fresh air - not the airconditioned stuff pumping through my home.

Walking with God is very similar. We need to eat and digest the word of the Lord in the Bible, pray and (if you've been here long enough, you're familiar with the last element I'll mention) praise. These are the foundation of a thriving spiritual journey that puts God first. Yes, we must fast (Jesus let us know it's an expected part of our walk), intercede, petition, and honor the Lord in other ways such as tithing and caring for the physical needs of others. However, without these three foundational elements, we can't get to eternity in Heaven.

Here's some scripture to help us:

Importance of the Word of God: Joshua 1:8 - Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. (NIV)

Importance of Prayer: 1 Thessalonians 5:17 - Pray without ceasing. (BSB)

Importance of Praise: Ephesians 5:20 - Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; (KJV)

If we ignore these elements, death...hell, becomes the outcome.

Let us maintain a healthy diet for our spiritual life to become robust. The Holy Spirit will guide us on the little and big things we must do to move in lockstep with God's will for our lives.

I pray you will join us for Praise & Pray (for others) fellowship at Noon EST today. We spend an hour in fellowship by lifting praises to the Redeemer, then we intercede for people, placing our own needs on the backburner. All the way, we engage with the word of God, weaving it into our thanksgiving and petitions in an effort to honor the Lord and establish the necessary elements for a life with our Creator on Earth and in Heaven, IJN, Amen.

If anyone doesn't get a notification, please let me know. God bless.