Cultivating Faith By Casey Wayne
As a new mom, I felt restless. Time seemed to be moving backwards, and the daily cycle of activity turned monotonous fast. I felt stuck and unsure how to move forward.
The time and care I had for my children were important. While I recognized the significance of my role as a mother, I craved something for myself. This feeling drove me to discover a new hobby easily done in the random moments between feedings and diaper changes. Gardening became my new focus. A hobby I hoped would help me feel productive as I watched it grow. It seemed simple enough. The deeper I got into my research, the more I realized how simple and yet complex gardening can be. It takes time, intention, and lots of planning, preparation, and dedication to create the best environment for each individual type of plant to be as successful as possible. Consistent effort throughout the process is required to achieve the desired result. Our sanctification process is the same. To cultivate a life for Christ requires continuous, intentional efforts. Even through storms or uncomfortable heat. We must be willing to allow the Spirit to create an environment that generates growth in us.
As God pours into our hearts, we must be willing to soak up all the nutrients He provides to flourish in the life He has for us. Our spiritual growth is dependent on our willingness to actively pursue it. As we seek a deeper relationship with our heavenly Father, our desire to be moulded to the likeness of Christ should stir our hearts for Spirit-led change. It requires us to open our hearts to the cultivation process so we can have deep roots in God’s Word, creating a life that produces fruit for God’s glory.
1. AVAILABILITY
Make yourself available to hear God speak to you. Take time to be still, read God’s Word and lift prayers to the Almighty.
2. CONSISTENCY
Push yourself to create space for the Spirit to guide you daily. Make time in your schedule to have that time with the Lord—and stick to it!
3. BE TEACHABLE
Pray for God to reveal areas where your heart needs to grow or change. Then be willing to humble yourself as you allow the Holy Spirit to help you make those changes.
4. DO NOT STOP
God, in His kindness, will continue to help us learn, grow and share our stories for His glory. There is always more room for God to teach us something new so that we may be faithful stewards of the life He has given us.
Casey Wayne is a wife and mother of two. She enjoys time with her family doing simple things like movie nights and cooking together. As a devotional writer, Casey strives to share her story with relatable honesty, showing how God is faithful throughout the big and small moments of life. She has a heart for encouraging the faith walk of other moms, and praying they gain a deeper connection with our heavenly Father. Her family lives in the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia. Connect with Casey at caseywayne.org. You can also find her on Instagram or Facebook @caseylwayne.