Spiritual Growth

This month we worked with the students in both communities of El Zapote and El Tizate, continuing our theme of agriculture with them.

I always enjoy working with the kids (more than with the adults ...

...they're my favorite. They bring so much energy, excitement, and joy, and it's contagious. You get many smiles and laughter in, even as you talk about gross things like fungus and pesticides.

Speaking of pesticides, I enjoyed the metaphor Lisa made between pests that kill plants, and addictions that kill our spiritual walk with God and hinder our growth. Now, in talking with kids, how many addictions can they really have at this point in time?

Well you never know but hopefully not too many. I thought it was genius then, the one Lisa came up with, which applies to all of us, kids and adults alike, and that is our cell phones!

Many of us are glued to our phones these days for various reasons and it's not all bad. But it did challenge me and made me think of my phone usage and how to make sure it's not an area in my life the enemy is using to hinder my relationship with God and my spiritual growth. Just like how pesticides and insecticides are helpful for getting rid of fungus and other pests that target plants and hinder their growth, what are some good tools of discipline do I need to apply to my phone addiction in order to make sure it doesn't get the best of me and my spiritual growth?

How much time do I spend on my phone?

What excuses do I make to spend all that time on my phone?

In which aspects can I cut back on it

so that it's a healthy usage and not an addiction?

Recently God challenged me to cut back on how much I use my phone for even a "good" thing such as reading books on my Libby app. Reading is not a bad thing. And using my phone to read isn't a bad thing. But everything in moderation. What I give most of my time to reveals where my priorities are and the idols that take God's place of number one in my life.