Author: astherainandsnow

“Joshua said to all the people, ‘Thus says the Lord,.. “Long ago, your fathers lived beyond the Euphrates, Terah, the father of Abraham..; and they served other gods.  Then I took your father Abraham from beyond the River and led him through all the land of Canaan, and made his offspring many. I gave him Isaac. And to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau… Jacob and his children went down to Egypt. And I sent Moses and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt with what I did in the midst of it, and afterward I brought you out…

“'”Then I brought you to the land of the Amorites, who lived on the other side of the Jordan. They fought with you, and I gave them into your hand, and you took possession of their land…  And I sent the hornet before you, which drove them out before you, the two kings of the Amorites; it was not by your sword or by your bow.  I gave you a land on which you had not labored and cities that you had not built, and you dwell in them. You eat the fruit of vineyards and olive orchards that you did not plant.”

“’Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord… Choose this day whom you will serve.’

“He said, ‘Put away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your heart to the Lord, the God of Israel.’ And the people said to Joshua, ‘The Lord our God we will serve, and his voice we will obey.’” Joshua 24:2-5,8,12-15b,23-24

To close his charge to Israel before his death, Joshua reminded them of their long agos, the beautiful tracing of God’s hand from their life of idolatry beyond the River through their deliverance into the promised land they’d just conquered. At this inflection point, reviewing their national journey was to bring Him into clear focus and engender wholehearted trust and devotion.

When we look back and down into our years and consider what the Lord lovingly, strategically put in place long ago, how do we react? Are we bitter as victims of ugly circumstance, or regretful of idols we entertained? Do we fixate on all that’s been lost, difficult, painful, barren? Can we not shake bad memories, hurts, anger? Or do we trace the glory of sharing His sufferings, His merciful deliverances, deep lessons learned, His hand of grace to redeem and heal, and bow in gratitude? Can we see the cross come into focus between what has been and what we’ve become?

It is the enemy who would have us dwell in long ago with jaded, resentful eyes, and the Lord who says, ‘Up! You were there, and now you are here! Your were not mine, now you are Mine! I chose you, took you, led and made and gave and brought and blessed you! ‘ How will we translate His lifelong keeping into present fruitful living? (1 Peter 2:10)

“Praise to the Lord, who o’er all things so wondrously reigneth;
shelters thee under his wings, yea so gently sustaineth!
Hast thou not seen how thy desires e’er have been
granted in what he ordaineth?” ~Joachim Neander (1680)

Lord, thank You for ordering my long agos in affection and fulfilling their purpose by grace that I might glorify Your name.

“And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand…’

“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues,  and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour.  For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved… 

“So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known…  And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.  But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.  So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father..,  but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven…

“And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” Matthew 7,16-22,26,28-33,38

“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.” 1 Peter 4:12-13

There are times our walk and witness for Christ are not well received. When we meet opposition and rancor with temporal vision, we get agitated with angst or confusion, and want either to shrink back or retaliate. We castigate the ‘enemy’ and try to prove ourselves right, or better. But when we see opposition with a broader, higher perspective, we recognize it’s exactly what what we should expect, and have actually been prepared for.

When we are so enamored with ourselves and focused on our provincial, cozy living, we shrink at some hard obediences because of the prospect of conflict, rejection, or discomfort. We might even face persecution. But the Lord calls us to high, holy living. He commends that we stand firm against accusation and persecution. We must not recoil. We must not be ambivalent. We must not fear. We’re called to faithfulness. (Matthew 5:10-12)

How promptly do we heed God’s call to go wisely among the wolves? Would we turn our anxieties to Him and trust His Spirit to lead, speak, and triumph? Rejoice! A steady path of obedience leads to heights of faith and blessing.

Father, help me obey with a long view for Your grace and glory.

“Joshua summoned all Israel, its elders and heads, its judges and officers, and said to them, ‘I am now old and well advanced in years. And you have seen all that the Lord your God has done to all these nations for your sake, for it is the Lord your God who has fought for you… And you shall possess their land, just as the Lord your God promised you. Therefore, be very strong to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, turning aside from it neither to the right hand nor to the left, that you may not mix with these nations remaining among you or make mention of the names of their gods or swear by them or serve them or bow down to them, but you shall cling to the Lord your God just as you have done to this day. For the Lord has driven out before you great and strong nations… One man of you puts to flight a thousand, since it is the Lord your God who fights for you, just as he promised you. Be very careful, therefore, to love the Lord your God… 

“’And now I am about to go the way of all the earth, and you know in your hearts and souls, all of you, that not one word has failed of all the good things that the Lord your God promised concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one of them has failed. But just as all the good things that the Lord your God promised concerning you have been fulfilled for you, so the Lord will bring upon you all the evil things, until he has destroyed you from off this good land that the Lord your God has given you, if you transgress the covenant of the Lord your God, which he commanded you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them. Then the anger of the Lord will be kindled against you, and you shall perish quickly from off the good land that he has given to you.'” Joshua 23:2-3,5-9a,10-11,14

Joshua was the son of Nun, Moses’s assistant and successor, and Israel’s brilliant military commander who led them in conquering Canaan. He had crossed the Red Sea on dry ground to escape Egypt, climbed Sinai with Moses to receive the law, and traversed the Jordan River at flood stage on dry ground into the promised land. But most of all, he was the Lord’s. His identity was not in pedigree, successes, or experiences but in Whose he was, and his words to Israel at the end of his remarkable life all resounded with Him. Remembering, admonishing, encouraging, warning- everything he had to say related to his Lord and His power, His promises, His provision. (Exodus 24:12-18; Joshua 3:7-16; 4:23)

When we ponder the sum of our life, is it a list of accolades, adventures, influential people we have known? Does advice rendered center around us, or promote self-focus and following passions? Or are we so enthralled with Jesus that His grace, salvation, love, and power define our legacy? How will we speak of Him today?

Lord, may all my words be all about You, to Your praise and renown.

“So Joshua said to the people of Israel, ‘How long will you put off going in to take possession of the land, which the Lord, the God of your fathers, has given you?..’

“So the men arose and went, and Joshua charged those who went to write the description of the land, saying, ‘Go up and down in the land and write a description and return to me...‘ So the men went and passed up and down in the land and wrote in a book a description of it by towns in seven divisions. Then they came to Joshua to the camp at Shiloh… And there Joshua apportioned the land to the people of Israel, to each his portion.” Joshua 18:3,8-10

More than half of Israel’s tribes had not yet been assigned land, and Joshua determined that they take responsibility for ownership. Get familiar with it, know its features and challenges, then I’ll guide you in possessing it. Don’t delay, rise from your waiting, and go! The Lord had brought them across the Jordan and would establish them there forever, but they needed to traverse it and settle in their portion.

To understand aspects of our personalities and character that need to be conquered, we need to be willing to assess their topography. It’s important for spiritual growth that we know the crevices where evil lurks, the plateaus that breed complacency, the breadth of potential as far as we can currently see. Describe them, own them, bring them to the Lord and turn them over to His authority to allot His order of conquest. He knows best what needs addressing first, He grants strength to battle pesky enemies, He matches task to ability and vice versa. (Joshua 17:17-18)

It’s also prudent to get acquainted with the riches and fruit of the Spirit we’ve been allotted in Christ so we can possess them to the full. As our days and unique identities, so is His strength. Searching out His treasury of wisdom, love, and spiritual power will avail us of our inheritance for application now and in the future. (Deuteronomy 33:25b; Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 1:3; Philippians 4:19; 2 Peter 1:3-4)

How well do we know ourselves? Do we gloss over character weaknesses and areas of grave temptation to put on a polished appearance? Have we fallen to Satan’s ruse of moral comparisons and dismissed sin habits as ‘just how I am and I’m not as bad as he’? Do we hurry through or neglect altogether time in thoughtful confession? To schedule and keep seasons of praise and earnest prayer does much to reveal and renew our heart inclinations.

And how familiar are we with our Savior? When are we going up and down in His word to take note of His attributes and comprehend His ways? Knowing who He is and all we own in Him exposes our needs and energizes spiritual vitality. How can we apply His choice and adoption to present identity insecurities, or riches of grace and wisdom to shame, fear, and confusion? We can delight in and cling to what we know. (Ephesians 1:4-12)

Lord, keep me rejoicing in all the land You’ve assigned, taking full possession of everything You have for me to understand, express, implement, share, and apply for fruitfulness to Your glory.

“Has a nation changed its gods,
even though they are no gods?
But my people have changed their glory
for that which does not profit.
Be appalled, O heavens, at this;
be shocked, be utterly desolate,
declares the Lord,
for my people have committed two evils:
they have forsaken me,
the fountain of living waters,
and hewed out cisterns for themselves,
broken cisterns that can hold no water…

“Moreover, the men of Memphis and Tahpanhes
have shaved the crown of your head.
Have you not brought this upon yourself
by forsaking the Lord your God,
when he led you in the way?
And now what do you gain by going to Egypt
to drink the waters of the Nile?
Or what do you gain by going to Assyria
to drink the waters of the Euphrates?
Your evil will chastise you,
and your apostasy will reprove you.
Know and see that it is evil and bitter
for you to forsake the Lord your God;
the fear of me is not in you,
declares the Lord God of hosts…

“Though you wash yourself with lye
and use much soap,
the stain of your guilt is still before me,
declares the Lord God.” Jeremiah 2:11-13,16-19,22

“Jesus said to her, ‘Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.’” John 4:13-14

Thirst is a natural urge, yet we humans sample many liquids that never quench. Often we keep returning, foolishly thinking more of the same—- cheap entertainment, illicit or excessive substances, strange gods—- will finally satiate, but bad water never does. Thirst of soul will gnaw all life long until it is satisfied in the Lord alone.

What keeps us changing gods? Is it because we have dismissed the true One? Man is fickle and flirty beyond repair when he forsakes living water for devices of his own design and taste. A restless spirit remains so when it seeks everything but truth, yet the one who sets his mind on Christ will be kept in peace. Which strange and bitter rivers, whose cisterns, what false beliefs are keeping us from the water that truly quenches? (Isaiah 26:3)

It is vital to recognize the polluted rivers that attract us, and turn the other way. We need to name beliefs and attitudes that are apostasy, and return to the Lord. And when we take our guilt to Him and claim Christ’s substitutionary death for us, we are free to drink from Him life forever. Allelujah! (1 John 1:9)

“I need Thee ev’ry hour,
Most gracious Lord;
No tender voice like Thine
Can peace afford.

I need Thee ev’ry hour,
Stay Thou nearby;
Temptations lose their pow’r
When Thou art nigh.

I need Thee, oh, I need Thee;
Ev’ry hour I need Thee;
Oh, bless me now, my Savior,
I come to Thee.” ~Robert Lowry (1872)

Lord, lead me in my thirst to Your living water, and fill me to overflow so others may taste it too.

“Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him in his words. And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, ‘Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone’s opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?^’ But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, ‘Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin for the tax.’ And they brought him a denarius. And Jesus said to them, ‘Whose likeness and inscription is this^?’ They said, ‘Caesar’s.’ Then he said to them, ‘Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.’ When they heard it, they marveled. And they left him and went away.” Matthew 22:15-22

The trouble with the Pharisees is they couldn’t escape the truth. Their efforts to entangle Jesus were thwarted by the very claims they spoke: He was true and could not be tricked. No matter the vehemence of their sinister motive and strategy to ruin His influence, His majesty would stand immovable and incorruptible. Their plotting turned to marveling as He was simply Himself and upturned their ruse into bewilderment, ending the conversation with a hush.

And the beautiful thing about God is He always takes us higher and deeper than we ever imagined and leaves us in wonderment. He not only thwarts our ill intentions but furthers His redemptive ones. He not only upends our earthly thinking but elevates His eternal mindset. Dealing with Jesus will always restructure our outlook, reorder our longings, and enrich our souls. The paltry attempts we take to Him are transformed to magnify His wisdom, kindness, and grace.

Don’t we realize we cannot deter the Lord’s will and ways? That there is no plan of man that can succeed against Him? Finagling with Scripture’s moral standards and attempts to justify decisions and behavior abhorrent to Him will never succeed. We cannot trick Jesus into being or approving something He is not and does not. No amount of cultural pressure, threat of ruin, or intent for demise can overpower what God has spoken and ordained. (Job 5:12; 42:2; Psalm 119:89; Proverbs 21:30; Isaiah 14:24)

Where do we attempt to fool the all-knowing God? Have we entertained or ignored any taint of malice, deception, or pride within that needs to be reckoned with by naming and confession? What ignorance of His ways, or dismissing of His truth, causes callousness in our hearts? What ingrained tendencies to take false advantage or be conniving have distanced us from His grace? How will we pray, and when will we surrender and hush, so we can humbly fear and devotedly gaze in awe at the royal Jesus? (Matthew 22:29; 1 John 1:9)

Lord, purify me through and through to approach You always with pure motives. Keep me fearing You, ever dumbfounded and marveling at Your greatness and wisdom. Matthew 22:46

“I will extol you, my God and King,
and bless your name forever and ever.
Every day I will bless you
and praise your name forever and ever.
Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,
and his greatness is unsearchable.

“One generation shall commend your works to another,
and shall declare your mighty acts.
On the glorious splendor of your majesty,
and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.
They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds,
and I will declare your greatness.
They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness
and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.

“The Lord is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
The Lord is good to all,
and his mercy is over all that he has made.

“All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord,
and all your saints shall bless you!
They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom
and tell of your power,
to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds,
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and your dominion endures throughout all generations.

“The Lord is faithful in all his words
and kind in all his works…
You open your hand;
you satisfy the desire of every living thing.
The Lord is righteous in all his ways
and kind in all his works.
The Lord is near to all who call on him…in truth.
He fulfills the desire of those who fear him;
he also hears their cry and saves them.
The Lord preserves all who love him,
but all the wicked he will destroy.

“My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord,
and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.” Psalm 145:1-13,16-21

David’s song supposes many truths that make melody natural and uncontainable. The unique God and King is his, personal, knowable, and real. He is worthy of praise, His name above all others and deserving of exaltation. He is Himself great beyond description or knowing, supreme and superior to any other authority or power. His majesty is splendid and deeds are mighty and wondrous, awesome and great. His goodness is abundant and righteousness pure. His character is flawless, full of mercy, grace, patience, and steadfast love. And all of these and all of His are ongoing, infinite, and eternal! (1 Chronicles 17:20)

Indeed God is eternal, but David, because of His grace, will live eternally to give Him everlasting honor and praise. Those image-bearers who are born again will from generation to generation sing of His enduring dominion, faithfulness, and kindness. Ongoing praise will resound for a benevolent majestic ongoing Regent who rules, provides, and keeps. (John 3:16)

Have I joined the chorus of eternal rejoicing? What worldly distractions nag, what negativity pesters, to take my mind off of God’s worthiness? What residue of complaint or self-absorption sullies whole hearted praise? How will I establish a habit of ongoing laud and honor to the Lord in work and home? What part of today will I give to forever exaltation of my God?

Lord, while I have breath and being, may I sing the praise You deserve to magnify Your splendor before others and spread wide Your fame. (Psalm 146:1-2)

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and to them he said, ‘You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went. Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same. And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing. And he said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?.. You go into the vineyard too.’ And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages…’ And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius. And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house, saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me?’” Matthew 20:1-15

“Jesus said to him, ‘If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!’” John 21:22

It is sadly natural to go about our days in a garrison of comparison. We justify opinions and rights by measuring our acumen against others. We defend our actions and deserts with self-assessed righteousness. We deem ourselves morally superior and deserving of God’s better favor than those around us. We strut with swagger from our pride-erected platforms and demote or diminish others who live by a different compass or talent.

How different things look when we view them with God’s lens. How changed our focus, how upright the standard. Suddenly we are undone under the high and holy King and His angelic minions, and all defenses dissolve. Any greatness or reward we own comes by serving Him and others, and is His alone to commend. (Proverbs 27:2; Isaiah 6:1-8; Matthew 20:26-27)

How and where have we erected fortresses of pomp and self righteousness? Do we demand notice, obedience, or reward in the workplace, or credit, accolades, or relief at home? Do we treat others with disdain as lesser than us, or as more important than ourselves? How would we interact differently if we descended from our pomp and considered colleagues and neighbors as fellow image-bearers and church members as co-heirs? What would change in our worship if we looked to and followed Jesus only? (Genesis 1:15-17; Matthew 17:5-8; Romans 8:17; Galatians 3:28-29; Ephesians 3:6; Philippians 2:3-4)

Father, have Your way with all of me. Fix my contentment in You alone as my soul’s glory, joy, and crown.

“‘Sing, O barren one, who did not bear;
break forth into singing and cry aloud,
you who have not been in labor!
For the children of the desolate one will be more
than the children of her who is married,’ says the Lord.
‘Enlarge the place of your tent,
and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out;
do not hold back; lengthen your cords
and strengthen your stakes.
For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left,
and your offspring will possess the nations
and will people the desolate cities.

‘Fear not, for you will not be ashamed;
be not confounded, for you will not be disgraced;
for you will forget the shame of your youth,
and the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more.
For your Maker is your husband,
the Lord of hosts is his name;
and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer,
the God of the whole earth he is called.

For the Lord has called you
like a wife deserted and grieved in spirit,
like a wife of youth when she is cast off…
For a brief moment I deserted you,
but with great compassion I will gather you.
In overflowing anger for a moment
I hid my face from you,
but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,’
says the Lord, your Redeemer…

‘I have sworn that I will not be angry with you,
and will not rebuke you.’” Isaiah 54:1-8,9

“For his anger is but for a moment,
and his favor is for a lifetime.
Weeping may tarry for the night,
but joy comes with the morning.” Psalm 30:5

Moments of sorrow, seasons of destitution, abandonment, agonizing trials, are just that… moments. Temporary. Finite. In our human concept of time they may seem forever, but in God’s grand economy, He measures the little while of bitter and knows its end. In the meantime, we are to sing, prepare expectantly, and with increasing faith look to Him to fulfill His promises. He will bring the sweet to teach us relief and allow us to know His mercy. And grace, nearness, healing, restoration. He is the Redeemer who restores what locusts have eaten. (Joel 2:24-27; 1 Peter 5:10)

What choke of grief, rut of immobility, or famine of passion or vitality has ensconced us for far too long? Over what questions do we agonize, certain they’ll never be answered? Our experience of God can be enriched if we choose to see present barrenness as a brief moment ordained by Him for our good and His glory.

Where will we widen our tent pegs to learn new facets of God’s character, to look beyond despair and disgrace to glorious hope? To what promises will we cling as we anticipate joy’s dawning?

“When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
the rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;
for I will be near thee, thy troubles to bless,
and sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.

“When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
my grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply;
the flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.” ~George Keith (1787)

Lord, in the present moment grant me an eternal perspective and forever hope.

“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit.  You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.  The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil.  I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,  for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12:33b-37

“What comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person… But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person.  For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.  These are what defile a person.” Matthew 15:11b,18-20a

“No human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.  From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.  Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water?  Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.” James 3:8-12

“Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.” Hebrews 13:15

The human heart is abundantly full, and lips are active and powerful to build and destroy. Jesus’s warnings tie together this thumping vessel of passion, preference, and emotion with that instrument of expression to make sense and pack a forceful punch. Each is irretrievably connected to the other, and His children need not only be aware, but be careful.

With what do I fill my heart, and how am I tending it? What I look on and entertain, how I filter my senses and media input, where I covet or exercise self-control will determine its contents. When do I regularly take stock of the favoritism, resentment, malice, prurience, and arrogance I’ve let take up residence there? When will I spend time in focused, uninterrupted confession of the sin I’ve suckled, coddled, and continued there to the point of ignorance or tolerance, and refill with the Spirit? (Ephesians 5:18)

Are those around me at home and work embittered, poisoned, or nourished by the fruit of my lips? Where do I intentionally use my mouth to bless and upbuild and multiply gladness? (Ephesians 5:19-20; 1 Thessalonians 5:11)

When we consistently take in the Word, allowing the divine Farmer to sow it deep in our hearts, it will take root and grow. The Lord will watch over to perform it. Our words will become His. Our lips will bring forth much fruit for those around us by way of encouragement, consolation, and truth that transforms. It will also spill over in thanksgiving, honor, and praise to God. (Jeremiah 1:9,12; Matthew 13:43; 1 Corinthians 14:3)

Oh Lord, so fill my heart with gratitude and grace that my lips ever pour forth Your praise.