How many of you have longed for the days of simplicity? Have you dreamed of starting a garden, raising your own livestock, making your own clothes, or even moving off the grid into a remote location? Maybe you already do some of those things! Or, maybe you read that and think, “That doesn’t sound simple!” Well, it is and it isn’t. Homesteading is hard work! Farm animals never take a vacation, y’know. Those who choose to homestead do it because they find a value that matches all that effort. Booker T. Washington is credited with saying, “Nothing ever comes to one, that is worth having, except as a result of hard work.”

We know that salvation is a free gift, but what about growing in Christ once you are saved? That’s hard work! Thankfully, you don’t have to do it on your own—God has sent us the Holy Spirit as our Helper in sanctification! If you feel stagnant in your spiritual life, reflect on how much effort you’ve been putting into it. If you put in the work, you’ll find the value exceeds anything you could have imagined!