May Is Growth: Women's Daily Devotional, #5

By Sparrow Brooks

A new Bible verse and devotional about growing through God's love for each day of the month!

Start your day off right each morning by studying God's word. Grab your Bible and this new devotional, get cozy, and take a few quiet moments with the Lord to get your day off on the right foot. Or end your day snuggled in bed while you let God speak to your heart.

Each day of the month begins with a Bible verse on the topic of growthl, followed by a personal story from author Sparrow Brooks and how she interprets this verse in her real life. She ends each devotion with questions to ask yourself and a focus for the day.

May is a time when we start to think about growth--new plants, new animals, new opportunities for us as well. Use this time to let God speak to your heart about how you can grow in your relationship with Him and others.

With 31 days dedicated to growing closer to God, this devotional is perfect any time of the year!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sparrow Brooks
• Release date: Feb 11, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224629947

Book preview

May 1

When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things.

1 Corinthians 13:11

I love children. I have two little girls of my own, but I’ve always been surrounded with kids, from when I had a slew of little brothers and sisters, when I was a teacher, and when I’ve coached basketball, I’ve always been surrounded by kids.

Why do I love them so much? Well, they’re adorable. They’re innocent and know how to have fun and laugh without worrying about what others are thinking, but most of all, they’re honest. I love how children will tell you exactly what they think, even if it’s not always what you want to hear.

Children are pure and loving. As an educator, I could be sure I’d get at least fifty hugs a day--on a slow day. They look up at adults with wide, wondrous eyes, ready to learn and soak up our wisdom like sponges.

When I look at my daughters, particularly my younger one, I see all of these characteristics and wish I could be more like her. But there are some things she does I simply can’t do. When was the last time you saw a grown up skip across the room? I really can’t get away with pigtails anymore or carrying around a giant stuffed ferret. If I burst into song in the middle of the store, people will look at me oddly. I certainly can’t go in my room and play with dolls for hours without raising an eyebrow or two.

Unfortunately, we grow out of these things. We learn, we take on responsibility. We get too old and stiff to skip eventually, too. Life becomes serious and real. Sometimes, putting these things away can be sad and sobering. Other times, we recognize why it’s so good to be an adult. I can go wherever I want to (within reason) without asking. I can eat a candy bar for dinner if I want to. I can watch what I want, stay up past my bedtime, and have as many dogs as I want!

But I also have to do work. I have to pay bills. I have to think about how my actions affect other people. Being an adult has it’s good points and its not so great points.

When we grow in our relationship with Christ, we have to think about responsibility as well. We have to think about how our actions affect others. Are we acting like a spiritual adult in God, or do we seem immature in our beliefs? Can others see us and know God? Growing in our relationship with God means learning how to be a witness for others and let them see His love through our walk with Him.

What childish things might be blocking your growth in your relationship with God? Are you taking your walk with Him seriously or are you playing around? Are you focused on the games and toys of life or are you thinking about the souls of lost ones around you? Now is a perfect time to reexamine your own walk with Christ to see what might be stagnating your growth and keeping you from maturing in your walk with Him.

seeds

May 2

For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.

Hebrews 5:12-14

Have you ever been in a kindergarten class before? It’s an environment like none other. After graduating from college with a degree in history, I realized I couldn’t do much with that degree. So I decided to go back to college to get my teaching certificate. I’d planned on teaching high school history, until I discovered, despite my bachelor’s degree, I was an hour short in the area of economics to qualify for the high school teaching program. So… I decided to get my elementary education degree instead.

A few months after I started my program, I got a job as a kindergarten teacher. I hadn’t been in a kindergarten