Revelation 22:17, “The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” Let the one who hears this say, “Come!” Let whoever is thirsty come; whoever wishes may have the water of life as a free gift.”
Have you ever visited someone who has a lot of plants in their home? Maybe you grow plants in your home. There are great benefits to growing plants in your home or even office. Plants help reduce stress levels, sharpen your attention, boost productivity, and improve indoor air quality. They can be therapeutic, and for some, they can help recover from illness faster.
Maybe you like plants but always kill them, that’s okay. Not everyone has a green thumb. Fortunately, the plant green thumb runs through my family. The picture above shows four homes of four generations of plants: my grandmother, my mother, myself, and my daughter. Many of our plants have been passed on through from one to the next and it’s fun to watch them grow.
Aside from the benefits of plants, there are great things a plant can teach us.
Plants don’t set limits for themselves:
A plant will grow as much as it possibly can and will thrive.
Jesus wants you to grow as much as you can. He doesn’t just give you talents or spiritual gifts and say, “Only go this far.” He wants us to use our gifts and talents and expound on them. The more we learn and grow in Jesus the more we can share and spread the gospel.
Plants allow their struggles to make them stronger:
When a tree is left alone, exposed to the elements, it doesn’t give up. It just digs its heels in deeper, by growing thicker roots.
We all will face challenges as we grow older. We’ll have successes and failures. That’s when we step out of our comfort zones, dig our heels in deeper, and allow Jesus to help us grow stronger.
Plants turn toward the sun:
Plants don’t focus on the weeds around them, they simply face the sun, bathing in the rays and allowing the sun to give them nutrients, light, and oxygen.
While it’s important to be aware of life’s potential pitfalls we should never allow them to weigh us down. We simply need to turn toward the Son and allow Him to give us what we need to keep growing.
Plants are adaptable:
Plants adapt to changing seasons to help them thrive. They adjust themselves to each challenge accordingly.
Life also challenges us at times and life is constantly changing. When we are inflexible, we don’t find peace, but when we trust the Lord is in control, and believe He has the best in mind for us, we are able to find the peace that passes all understanding despite the changes.
Plants add value to other people’s lives:
Sometimes we take plants for granted. We forget their value from the oxygen we breathe to the beautiful flowers that make us smile. Plants add value.
Jesus created us all unique and special. We all have qualities that add value to others’ lives. Even a simple smile, hug, or kind word can add value to someone’s day. Remember you are valuable.
Plants are happy with being themselves:
Plants don’t seek validation from other plants to know who they are. They simply grow the way God created them to grow.
We all have been created for a purpose in God’s eyes. Not one of us is the same yet we all can work together in harmony. When we accept our individual uniqueness and stop seeking validation from others, we can truly be happy. Simply bloom your way and allow Jesus to help you grow the way He wants you to grow.
There is one more thought I’d like to share. Have you ever noticed a plant become droopy and sad-looking? My plants can get that way when I forget about them for a time, but it’s cool to watch the leaves perk right up again with a good drink of water, their life restored.
Jesus tells us He is the living water and with Him, we shall never thirst. Just like a plant needs water for nutrients and life, Jesus provides us the spiritual nourishment for our souls to thrive. When we feel droopy or life’s challenges are bringing us down, we can turn to Jesus, our water, and He can help perk us up and restore our souls. Jesus can quench our thirst and fill us to the brim when we keep Him in our lives.
So, even if you think you don’t have a green thumb get a plant or two. I may have some healthy-looking plants, but I’ve killed one or two or three in my lifetime too. Plants are nice to have and provide great benefits and the lessons we can learn in life. Happy growing!
Every single day we go through the motions of life. We get so busy doing what we have to do, it becomes a series of the same tasks one after another. This is something that we all face, and it’s easy to get into the day-to-day routines and lose focus. It’s not always about our work focus or our home focus, not even our family focus. There is a focus that should be at the top of the list every day… our Jesus focus. It’s easy to quote Matthew 22:37, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind” But when it comes to living it, we turn our attention to everything else and lose our focus on Him?
Jesus has given us everything we have, the talents we possess, and the family we share our home with. He is the reason we have breath in our lungs and a heart that beats in our chest. Doesn’t He deserve our focus, shouldn’t He be a priority in our life? The best way for me to keep Christ in your mind and heart is to include Him in your daily activities. Make Jesus a real part of your personal devotions and prayers.
This is an updated edition of a post originally published on ConnectWithGodDaily
Featured Image by Mabel Amber from Pixabay
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