by Jason Babu
In the book of Philippians, the Apostle Paul exhorted the brethren, “Let this mind be in you”. However, we have to ask, whose mind? The rest of the verse gives us the answer, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5). To grow our spiritual garden, we certainly need the mind of Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul urges us to set an example of the type of mind we should have.
As a Youth in the Church, you can develop these three important things to grow and maintain spiritual health in your daily life:
1. Pray Fervently.
Remember prayer is not something you recite or mumble by saying the same things again and again (Matthew 6:7). It’s a tool that we use to talk and communicate with God, to share many things that are on our mind, including blessings that we are thankful for. Thanking God can be a great start! Thank Him for the truth, family, Church, friends and many other things. It is easy to get so caught up with our daily physical routine and work that we can forget to pray or talk to God, but don’t forget first things first. “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) and “in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
That’s very important, indeed!
2. Study Your Bible.
Think of your Bible as your personal text book. You may start reading the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) in order to get better acquainted with the life, ministry, and teachings of Jesus Christ during His days on this earth. Or maybe studying and meditating on a chapter of Proverbs or a Psalm every day. You may also consider starting the Bible Study Course. If you have questions about where to start, talk to your local Pastor. He is there to help you.
3. Deepen Your Friendships within the Church.
Look for a friend within your Church community. You may have friends outside of the Church, which is fine, but be careful that they don’t negatively influence you. That’s why it is so important to fellowship with Church brethren and young people who can help you tend and keep your spiritual garden. (Ecclesiastes 4:12)
Remember God created Adam and Eve and gave them a job to do, to tend and keep a physical garden (Genesis 2:15). Likewise, God gave us a mind that can be likened to a spiritual garden and you must tend and keep it- only then will it look beautiful. When you practice and make these three keys part of your routine, things will generally go better in your life. Moreover, when there are times of trouble that you face, these three keys will help keep you afloat and even enable you to produce spiritual fruit despite the hardships faced. You can certainly build a personal relationship with Jesus Christ if you water, tend and keep your spiritual garden healthy.
More Resources...
