Spiritual Growth

Join a Tree of Life Bible Study Group

Hope for Today Facebook Group

Spiritual content added daily!

Sign Up

Day Break Bible Study (Senior Adults)

Blue Ridge Bible Church
770 S 20th Street, Purcellville, VA

Thursdays at 11:00 am

Sign Up
Prayer Gathering

Bible Study for Individuals with Special Needs

SimplyBe Coffee
208 Church Street, SE, Leesburg, VA

Wednesday and Thursday at 12pm

Read a recent devotional:

May 24, 2022 | FRUIT FROM THE TREE OF LIFE

TUESDAY: AM I SPIRITUALLY POOR?

Lord, when I’m empty, alone, drained, tired, and deprived of Your Word, encourage me to seek You and eat spiritual food that will fill me up.

Proverbs 6:6-11

The writer, King Solomon, doesn’t hold back. He addresses the problem directly: there are times when I am a sluggard—one who is lazy and not diligent. He uses a tiny ant as an example of how I should act. Without any direction or accountability, the ant prepares for the future and gathers food at the proper time. What causes me to be sluggish? If an ant’s ways are considered wise, then anytime I make unwise decisions I can become sluggish. Sluggishness therefore is not just a state of a laziness; it is also the product of allowing my mind to become unfocused and unclear.

My mind can get in this state when I’m not pursuing spiritual disciplines to keep my self-control. Anytime I make decisions without being “prayed-up”, I am operating with a sluggish mind. This is anytime I pursue a direction without consulting God’s Word and praying, then I am wading in the waters of sluggishness.

THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS: When will I get up out of my sluggishness? When I wake up from my sluggish ways! The poverty which comes like a thief is spiritual poverty. The moment I let down my guard, I increase my likelihood to sin. My spiritual guardrails are in full force when I am “spiritually awake” and lose their impact when I’m asleep at the wheel.

Just as the ant is busy gathering physical food, I likewise should be busy gathering spiritual food. Feeding my spirit not only requires prayer and meditation on God’s Word but also using my gifts to meet the needs of others. Using my spiritual gifts is another way I feed my spirit. When I confess and repent of my sin by faith, God cleanses my heart with His forgiveness. He fills my heart with fruit from the Holy Spirit. Lord, I do not wish to be spiritually poor. Please help me seek You with all my heart and fill my spirit with spiritual fruit that the Holy Spirit provides.

May you be blessed,
Chaplain Wayne Ruckman

Prayer Icon

Need Prayer?

Send us a prayer request, nothing is too big or too small, it’s our privilege to pray for you.

Send Now

Pray

The root of Tree of Life is our prayer – communication with our God. Everything we do is bathed in prayer.

Your prayers make ALL the difference

Our Tree of Life Chaplain coordinates our prayer across all Branches. If you would like further information about how you can stay home and still help the poor and needy, contact us to discuss joining our Prayer Team.

Find Out How to Pray with Us

Email: partnercare@tolministries.org

Phone: 540-441-7920

Need Help?

If this is an an emergency, please call 911.

 

We want to connect you with the right person as quickly as possible. Please provide your full name, phone number, email address, zipcode, and a brief description of your need.

Contact us using the button below or call us at 540-441-7920, Monday-Friday: 9AM-2PM

 

CONTACT US

Prayer Request

“Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.”
– Jeremiah 29:12

Please complete the information below, and our Prayer Team will lift your prayer request to the Lord.

    By submitting your email address, you understand that you will receive email communications from Tree of Life Ministries.

    This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

    Sign up for a Bible Study

    Complete the sign-up form below to participate in a Tree of Life Bible Study.

      * Select the Bible Study you’d like to participate in:

      This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.