A Prayer for Spiritual Growth
By Laura Bailey
Bible Reading
“Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.” Hebrews 5:13-14
Listen or Read Below:
“What’s wrong with the peach trees?” I inquired of my husband. As I looked out onto the pasture, I noticed that many of the tree’s branches were dragging on the ground, looking like they were about to break. My husband shared that there were so many peaches that the branches couldn’t support their weight, causing them to droop and sag. “Sounds like a good problem to me. I’ll send the girls out to pick after breakfast this morning, “ my voice dripping with anticipation at the thought of the season’s fresh fruit. Let’s take a walk,” my husband took my hand, and we went to the orchard.
Taking a closer look, I noticed that while the trees were overflowing with fruit, the peaches weren’t ripe. They were plentiful, but small and hard, nowhere ready to be picked, even though it was “time.” The cold, rainy spring followed by a drought and record-hot temperatures this summer made it difficult for the peaches to mature. Without the proper growing conditions, the peaches’ growth stagnated. And, unless there was a change in conditions, the fruit would never reach maturity but eventually shrivel up and die.
Our key verse is Hebrews, where the writer addresses the dangers of spiritual stagnation. As followers of Christ, we should be moving to be more like Him every day, our faith maturing as we work out our salvation (Philippians 2:12). It is natural for those who’ve recently accepted Christ to have an inexperienced and immature faith. And while we all must start somewhere in our faith, each day is an opportunity to strengthen our spiritual muscles.
Unfortunately, that excitement, the hunger for the Lord’s Word and His people experienced after conversion, tends to wane or is non-existent as time ticks on. Instead of growing in spiritual zeal and enthusiasm, our faith is characterized as dull and lifeless. That’s where we find the audience (and many of us today) as we read Hebrews 5:13-14, “Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.”
We should heed the warning to not become lazy or apathetic in our faith. Typically, the spiritual slide happens gradually: missing one or two Sundays here, skipping Bible reading for a few weeks, neglecting prayer time, or ignoring the call to spend time in the Christian community. We convince ourselves that it’s just a temporary break. When life slows down or our seasons change, we will make more time for the things of the Lord. But, friend, that’s a slippery slope that we want to avoid at all costs as true believers. Sometimes, we have a new baby, move to a new city, start a new job, or care for an aging parent, and our time is limited. Yet, even in these circumstances, it’s vital to our spiritual health to find a margin to meet with the Lord and His people.
There’s nothing better than biting into a ripe peach picked right off the tree. It’s bursting with flavor, the vibrant color of the outside matching the deliciousness. But they need time to mature and the conditions to grow perfect peaches. Likewise, if we want to be people who experience the abundant life in Christ (John 10:10) and the blessings that come from a life surrendered to the Lord, we must put into the work. Our lives and our faith serve a purpose. We are not saved simply to avoid eternal damnation. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can share the gospel message, making and teaching disciples. Let’s seek to grow fully and abundantly in Christ as we taste and see that the Lord is good (Psalm 34:8).
Let’s Pray:
Heavenly Father, help us move from spiritual infancy, embracing each stage of our faith journey. May we embrace every day as an opportunity to grow, learn more about You and Your word, and strengthen our relationship with You and others. When we start to slide spiritually, guide us back to you, keeping our faith of high importance. We love you, Lord.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/Sarayut
Laura Bailey is an author and Bible teacher who encourages women to understand what they believe, why it matters, and how to apply biblical truths to their lives. Her recent book, Embracing Eternity in the Here and Now, explores how the timeless truths of Ecclesiastes help us live more peaceful, purposeful, and plentiful lives today.
She lives in Upstate South Carolina with her husband and three young girls, where she serves as director of women's ministries at her church. Her passion is teaching the Bible to women, equipping them to live with an eternal perspective. Invite Laura to speak at your next event or learn more: www.LauraRBailey.com
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