Increase Your Bloom-Ability
Day 1 – Does God Want Me to Bloom?
My house is entered by a long driveway lined with rose bushes. Well, they aren’t exactly bushes at all– more like sparse sticks with thorns and a few leaves. It’s not lovely or welcoming. But I envision the day when I drive up to find a prolific display of colors exploding with blooms extended from luxuriant flourishing bushes.
My husband, Chad, does not share my vision. Instead, he has urged me to remove these stragglers. He thinks they’re an eyesore. Indeed, my ugly bushes are not a vision of horticultural beauty. But I haven’t been willing to cooperate. Their current state continues to remind me of my own spiritual place of discontent. Just as I long for thriving plants that burst with a kaleidoscope of colors, I deeply desire to live a life of substance that bears an exuberant amount of spiritual fruit.
If we’re honest, this desire for exuberance in terms of spiritual fruit is something you and I have both felt from time to time. The desire to reflect the character of Christ in our day to day activities runs deep through our veins. But too often, instead, we resemble my straggly excuses for rosebushes:
- We do not have the patience to endure what the day brings. Those closest to us pay the consequences.
- Sometimes our anger is not in check–losing control of our emotions.
- We battle forgiveness and resolution, mentally regurgitating events we have endured by hurtful people. We recite different endings– what we SHOULD have said instead of what we DID SAY—that may have made all the difference–at least to our pride.
- We fret and worry in the face of unknown circumstances and questions without answers–– not really sure if God recognizes the gravity of our circumstances. We wonder if He is willing to help us.
- Sometimes we’ve simply lost our vision for who God has designed us to be. Life is not what we planned, but numbness or even indifference develops toward others.
God’s purpose for you is that you become a prolific bloomer–that you increase your bloom-ability! We find this truth in Scripture (John 15:8).
By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.
It’s blatant. Unhidden. And if that were not enough, Jesus, Himself has provided the blueprint for how this can be achieved in our lives. (Forthcoming in the text.)
You and I must simply make a choice: Either we will take Him at His Word and move to the next level– or we won’t.
I’m going to choose to be a Take-Him-At-His-Word kind of girl. What about you? Will you join me as we look more closely at what Jesus has to say to us about increasing our bloom-ability?
The next day in this series should post on Thursday.
Cheri
Hello I would like to know if I can get copies of this devotional plan, for my women’s day program?
Tamia,
You absolutely can use these with your group! Currently they are not available in a downloadable format. I can think of two possible work-around solutions —
1) you could all access them through YouVersion on your digital devices. It is broken down into the same days – although the wording may not be exactly the same.
2) Or you could print each day from the blog here at On Beyond Ordinary, as you are asking my permission to use it with your group.
I am just finishing up a journal to go along with this topic. I’m living this one during this season of my life — and I really need this journal for reminders and focus. Should be out in a few weeks!
If your group is anywhere close to where I’m going to be in the next few months — let me know. I’d love to crash your Bible study!
Cheri