I used to tease my older sister, Kristen, about the fact that she couldn’t keep her houseplants alive. It seemed like every single plant that entered her house ended up dying within a few weeks. “How hard is it to remember to water your plants?” I would ask. My teasing rights immediately disappeared the moment I received a plant of my own. A sweet friend gifted me an adorable little succulent plant for my birthday. I proudly displayed it on my shelf and enjoyed the little bit of greenery it brought to my room. As much as I loved that little plant, I forgot to do one very important thing—I forgot to take care of it. I forgot to water and nourish that little succulent, and it withered and died. When I opened up Chapter 6 in This Changes Everything, I couldn’t help but smile at the opening story. Jacquelle shares a story very similar to mine. I guess I officially get to join her ranks of “professional plant killers.” I love how Jacquelle ties in our growth as Christian girls to the growth of a plant. Both take nourishment, care, and intentionality to grow. If you haven’t read Chapter 6, I encourage you to do so. Then check out this quick video summary.
In this chapter, Jacquelle gives us three practical ways to nourish our souls and promote spiritual growth in our lives. I love the examples she shares. Check them out!
Three Ways to Grow
1. Read to grow.
Invest your time in reading solid, biblically based books. Jacquelle shares a list of her favorites in Chapter 6 to help you get started. I encourage you to check out the books found here in the Lies Young Women Believe shop page. There are a ton of great options in there!
2. Listen to grow.
Be careful what you listen to. Words are powerful. Choose carefully when it comes to music, podcasts, audiobooks, and movies. Be intentional about listening to words and lyrics that help you grow in godliness. I’ve noticed that the more I listen to Christ-centered music, the easier it is to focus my eyes on Christ throughout the day. It helps me remember what really matters. I encourage you to make an effort to listen to music that focuses your thoughts on Christ.
3. Pay attention to grow.
This one really got me. I’m as guilty as they come. My thoughts love to wander, and I love to daydream. Jacquelle really challenges us to choose to control our wandering minds and to pay attention. Especially in church when we are listening to sermons. This was a great reminder for me. I need to remember to focus and to pay attention when I’m in church, Bible study, small group, etc. I’d encourage to pick one of the three, and ask the Lord to help you apply it to better nourish the soil of your soul. Tell us which one you picked in a comment below. Then, be sure to hop back on the blog next Monday for our next Summer Book Club update.