Active participant?

Growth is a process that cannot be rushed, nor can it be neglected. We manage to do both, don't we? We want growth to be instant. We overlook the 'maintenance' of that growth, wondering why things seem to be 'going south' as it applies to our spiritual health. Seed might sprout where it is planted, but make no mistake about it, growth requires attentiveness.

The Kingdom of God is like a farmer who scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, while he’s asleep or awake, the seed sprouts and grows, but he does not understand how it happens. (Mark 4:26-27)

God is at work even when we don't see him working. We might not comprehend what he is doing, nor are we always 'attentive' to his work within, but when God plants a seed, he sends the Holy Spirit to tend its growth. We don't have to understand the growth process as much as we need to participate in it as it is occurring. Seed gets sown, but growth comes in its own time. We cannot rush it, although we can anticipate it. There is something transformative when we know God goes to work 'sowing' seed into our lives. We actually begin to look for evidence of what is about to come forth, don't we? Sometimes God asks very little in the way of our 'effort' when it comes to that growth, while he may ask for extreme attentiveness at others.

Just as seed in our garden requires little attention when sown into prepared soil, our prepared hearts may not seem to need much 'tending' until we begin to see the tiniest of growth emerging. That is where we find ourselves 'watching over' with extreme attentiveness the tiny seed of faith that is emerging. Why? Just as in our garden, if we want full development of that 'seed faith', the emerging 'plant' must be protected, nurtured, and encouraged to grow. We might not realize the importance of taking in his word on a very consistent basis, nor do we always understand the power unlocked when we worship and pray, but it is our part in seeing the 'seed' through to 'full growth' and fruit-bearing. We don't have to understand the 'growth process', but we do need to ACTIVELY participate in it. Just sayin!