Nourishing The Spirit As Well As The Body

Danny and I have been taking our youth group through a lesson series on Church Words and What They Really Mean. There are so many words and phrases that Christians throw around without knowing their context, and we're spending several weeks talking about them. So far this month we've gone through Good News, Messiah, 

This Sunday's phrase was born again, and I have to admit that I needed this lesson myself. We have always told the teens that we study these lessons for ourselves, and they just get to join in on what we've learned and how we're applying it to our own lives. It always makes them raise their eyebrows at us a little, and I love that.

After explaining that born again is the synonym for salvation and reviewing that ultra-important concept, we focused in on John 3:6: That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

I have been incredibly focused on the physical for the past year. I've lost 30 pounds thanks to intermittent fasting and portion control, and I'm doing some intense physical therapy for degenerative disc disease and a hip that's out of place. Fibromyalgia complicates everything, so that plays a role, especially in the cold days of winter.

But our youth lesson reminded me that flesh is flesh and needs tending, but more important is the spirit. If I'm not putting as much time and effort into my spiritual life as I am my physical condition, it's going to wither away. And that's easier said than done some days.

We asked them first about how they keep their bodies in top physical condition. They had all the right answers - eat a balanced diet, get lots of exercise, practice good hygiene, don't put yourself in dangerous situations. They were spot on and had lots of great examples of how important being strong and healthy is.

Then we switched to how to take care of the spirit, and they knocked it out of the park. You know you're doing something right when the first two answers to a question about spiritual growth are prayer and Bible study. They added attending church and youth group regularly and sharing their testimony. But we didn't let them stop there. The answers were great, but how do you actually apply these ideas to your life? They admitted it wasn't easy, but they could ask questions while they're reading their Bibles, make sure they get up early enough to be at church, and not get hung up on some long, elaborate prayer time when they can talk to God all day every day.

This conversation convicted me. I've been in survival mode for several months and felt like my spiritual life was shriveling up. Our teens reminded me that it takes work and effort to maintain your walk with God, let alone grow it! They shook me awake yesterday, and the Holy Spirit reminded me of what I need to be doing to grow and change beyond my boundaries. That was the kickstart I needed.

How is your spiritual growth today? Are you thriving or just surviving? What ideas from our youth group can put you on the path to a more vibrant walk with the Lord?

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