Spiritual food for growth
Succulents need nutrients to help them grow healthy and beautiful. For summer growing succulents, spring is the best time to fertilise and autumn for the winter growing plants. They require a different ratio of NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) than regular houseplants and these granules or liquid fertilisers are available in all garden centres. Put the fertiliser on the soil and avoid applying directly on the stem or leaves, that can burn and kill the plant. Fertilising is important along with good soil, adequate watering and sufficient sunlight for their growth.
In our garden of life, spending time with God which is prayer, and studying His word, are the two most important nutrients for our spiritual growth. We make so many excuses about not having that time, when all of us have twenty four hours in a day, which is 1,440 minutes and that is 86,400 seconds. We do not think about the amount of time we waste on social media or even gossiping and complaining on unnecessary matters with friends. We always make that extra time to watch our favourite sport or movies but not those few minutes in a day for prayer. I know there were lots of time when life was filled with struggles and disappointments, that I did not feel like or even know what to pray. There were also times when going to God was the last thing on my mind. Later, I understood that I could pray about anything, anytime, anywhere and our Lord hears them all, and is with us all the time. It's not just reading, but studying God's word, my Bible, that made the difference of having that deeper, closer relationship with my heavenly Father. I have heard that prayer should be like our breathing, as we do not count the number of breaths that we take. We can form a habit, if we would make an effort to put prayer as our priority in our daily schedule. I like the five finger prayer adapted by Pope Francis that reminds everyone what to pray. Picture the praying hand and all the five fingers, Thumb- Pray for those closest to us. Index finger (Pointer)- Pray for teachers, preachers, people that point us in the right direction. Middle finger (Tallest)- Pray for people in authority, leaders, President, Prime Minister, decision makers. Fourth finger (weakest)- Pray for those in trouble, sick, suffering and the Little finger (smallest)- Pray for all our needs. The smallest in relation to how big our God is, His greatness.
Are you feeding on junk with many excuses, or want to include good nutrients like prayer and His word for your spiritual growth?
