In our Western culture, we say that we love everything. We love pizza. We love our mamas. We love traveling.

Our English word for love is wimpy. We can’t express the range of emotions encompassed in our one word.

Greek is different. Their language has four words to express the feelings we go through for love.
As a fruit of the Spirit, the Greek word used is agape. That’s the unconditional love that never fails. If you have ever tried to love someone who is on your last nerve, you know that agape love does not come naturally.

First Corinthians 13:4-8 is one of the most well-known passages on love. “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails” (NKJV). 

Almost every wedding I’ve attended has shared this passage with hopes that their marriage will attain the heights of the love described. Yet, more and more, I realize that in myself, I have no ability to love with such abandon and grace as described above. The only way I can love anyone else is when I’ve first experienced this love firsthand. Then I can pass along the love of God to others.

Love Because We’re Loved

First John 4:19 NKJV says, “We love Him because He first loved us.” Love originates from the heart of the Father towards His creation. As He pours out that love into our hearts through the power of the Holy Spirit, it grows from a small seed of appreciation until it fully blooms into love. When we recognize the love that the Father has lavished up on us, we can’t help loving Him back.
One way we know how much God loves us is when we’ve realized how much we’ve been forgiven. The more we’ve been forgiven by God, the greater our love towards God and others. Luke 7:41-13 NKJV says, “There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?”  Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have rightly judged.”
The Father’s forgiveness doesn’t give us an excuse to sin all we want so that we may be forgiven more (Romans 6:1-2) and therefore receive more love from God to love Him more in return. We don’t abuse God’s grace. Instead, when we sin, the Holy Spirit convicts us to repent of our actions and return to right relationship with the Father.
Jesus tells us to not only love our friends but also to love our enemies (Matthew 5:43-44). Recognizing that God sent His Son Jesus to die for us when we were His foes (Romans 5:6-8), because we’ve received the love of God, we can extend His love for others that we don’t posses in ourselves. We can’t muster up the love, but when we pray, God’s love can pour through us into the darkest corners of the earth.
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The Lord searched high and low to find the one lost sheep and return it to the fold. His love breaks through all the hurts and hidden sins we harbor.

If you, like me, struggle to love even your neighbors sometimes, much less your enemies, take time to bask in the love that God has for you. Write down all the ways you’ve seen God’s love in your life. Even if it seems dimmer in the present, the breath in your lungs is a gift from above.
Let the Lord love you.

That may sound easy, but it’s not. Sometimes, the guilt of our past can cling to us like an unwashed garment and leave a stench we think no one would want to approach us. Yet, the same way the father ran to his prodigal son covered in pig poop, our Heavenly Father runs to embrace us with open arms.

On the other end of the spectrum, maybe we feel entitled to the Father’s love because of our great works, like the older brother. It’s hard to love when our hearts are hard from pride. Ask the Lord to reveal the ways you’ve fallen short (Psalm 139:23-24), so that you can repent, return, and extend His love to others.

The more we receive God’s love, the more we will love others. The Father loved the world and sent His Son Jesus to save us. May we fill our lives with the Holy Spirit and let God’s agape love shine through to all the world.

• What are some ways you’ve seen the love of God in your life? Write them down so you can remember His agape towards you.
• What things make it easier for you to recognize the love of God towards you? 

I used to take Sunday evening walks along the boardwalk with friends. We enjoyed the fellowship to reflect on the morning’s sermon and edify each other for the week ahead. Yet, I had to be careful because I usually left everyone in the dust. While not athletically inclined, one thing I do is walk fast. I’d talk to someone without realizing I was 20 feet ahead. My friend Patty would laugh at how speedily I moved.
 
When we walk with the Holy Spirit, we need to go at His pace. Not run ahead, feeling good about ourselves or lagging behind feeling like we can’t catch up. Walking with the Spirit is the opposite of walking in the flesh. We should be led by the ways of the Lord instead of the ways of the world.
 
We humans, we tend to lean towards our sinful selves. Even when we do the right thing, we can’t on our own strength. We just aren’t that tough. Instead of focusing on having more patience or loving the unlovable, when we align ourselves with the Holy Spirit, His attributes shine through our lives in the form of the fruit of the Spirit.
 
Here are some of the ways we can walk with the Holy Spirit which will lead to better displaying His characteristics in our lives:
 

1. Speak Truth Aloud

 
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.” – Psalm 19:14 (NKJV)
 
During my morning commute, I repeat the armor of God aloud, followed by saying who I am in Christ and then names and attributes of God. After six months of this effort, I’m seeing a huge payout in my life. Whereas previously, I’d had a strong left-brained head knowledge of God’s goodness and love towards me, those truths have now sunk deep into my heart. Speaking words of life has crystallized God’s faithfulness in ways that reading the words silently didn’t create. We tell our minds truth instead of speaking death into our circumstances and plant seeds of hope.
 

1. Sing Praise Music

“I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.” – Psalm 9:2 NKJV
One day in the car, I felt overwhelmed by life’s circumstances. Crying, I called aloud to God, letting Him know I couldn’t bear the weight. I felt the Holy Spirit nudge me to sing what I call the Jesus medley. I sing three hymns together “He Keeps Me Singing,” “There’s Just Something about That Name,” and “Oh, How I Love Jesus.” These songs repeat the name of Jesus many times and focus on His faithfulness. By the end of those songs, my tears stopped, my heart rate slowed, and I felt hope that God would carry my load.
 
When we worship as we go, the melodies change the atmosphere around us and usher in the presence of God. The Lord inhabits the praises of His people. Often worship songs focus on the attributes of God. Singing about all the good things He has done postures our hearts to expect favorable outcomes instead of fear the worst.
 

1. Meditate on God’s Word

 
“But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night.” –       Psalm 1:2 NKJV
 
Sometimes, we can read the Bible without taking in its richer meanings. We need deeper dives for the truths to transform our hearts and minds. Just dipping a tea bag in hot water produces tan water, not strong tea. When I’ve really contemplated a verse to dig out its truths, I’ve seen the benefits of peace and joy (fruit of the Spirit) in my life. We need God’s Word to become part of the fabric of our being and change us from the inside out. The truths of the Bible need to inhabit our thoughts day and night so that our minds are transformed which in turn alters our actions.
 

1. Memorize Scripture

 
“Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.” – Psalm 119:11 NKJV
 
Some people have easier times learning Bible verses than others. When we put in the effort, the payoff is a heart inclined towards obedience instead of rebellion. If we want to yield the fruit of the Spirit, we have to seed our souls with the truths of God’s Word. Then the Holy Spirit has a larger arsenal of truth to pull from when temptation strikes.
 
While these may seem familiar ways to connect with God, how often do we do them? With the busy demands of life, it’s easy to get distracted. May we walk with the Spirit so He can transform us from the inside out and we will walk in the ways of the Lord and our lives will yield a bountiful harvest of spiritual fruit.
 

• Which method of walking in the Spirit resonates most with you? Why?
• Which method do you want to increase in your life with week so you more closely align with the Spirit?
  

For Easter brunch, my sister and I shared mixed berry pancakes. The meld of blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries burst with flavor. Fortunately, we ate at a restaurant. While I have blueberry bushes at home, they’ve not produced berries yet this year. My blackberry bush died from neglect. I’ve not attempted to try for raspberries for fear of their demise. Growing good fruit is hard work.
 
In Galatians 5:22-23, Paul explains, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law” (NKJV). The Greek word for fruit is singular. These aren’t nine separate types of fruit. It’s like one diamond with many facets. Each fruit relates to the others and all have the same source. We want to display this type of fruit in our lives. We want to be patient and kind. No country has ever passed a law that would put you in jail for being too loving or joyful.
 
On the other hand, we find the fruits of the flesh. Warning, this list will probably leave a bad taste in your mouth. Cities have outlawed many of these things as harmful to society. Galatians 5:19-21 says, “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (NKJV).
 
When left to our own devices, our lives produce all forms of wickedness. No amount of changing our outward behavior will change our hearts. Striving to improve frustrates us when we err again. If we try to love our friends and family, eventually, they will land on our last nerve and we may get angry. If we try to exhibit joy and then tragedy comes, we may become depressed. We can’t conjure up the fruit of the Spirit by force of will.
 
Instead, Galatians 5:24 says, “And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” We don’t just shove our flesh in a corner and ignore it. It won’t go away. Instead, we have to crucify the flesh with its desires. We have to kill it. The flesh and the Spirit war against each other. For the true fruit of righteousness to come through, it can’t be tainted with fleshly passions that poison the fruit. When we walk in the Spirit, the change comes from the inside out.
 
When we lay our angst before the Lord, God changes our hearts. Things that once would have triggered a harsh response, we can react with kindness that flows from above. Instead of yelling at the person who doesn’t use a turn signal properly, we choose to bless them.
 
As believers, the Holy Spirit lives inside us. In the Old Testament, people traveled to the temple to encounter God. Now, our bodies hold the Holy Spirit. We don’t have to fly to Jerusalem to hear from God. We carry the third person of the Trinity in our hearts wherever we go.
 
Because we live in the physical realm, it can be hard to grasp that the spiritual realm is superimposed on top of our lives. Just because we can’t see it, doesn’t mean it isn’t real. While we don’t see the smell of pancakes with our eyes, the scent still impacts how we taste food. The spiritual realm impacts how we digest the world around us because it touches every aspect of our lives. When we incorporate God in our daily routines, He remains seen in our mind’s eyes despite being invisible to our human eyes.
 
In the coming months, I will blog on each fruit of the Spirit to provide a deeper understanding of its role in our lives. The next blog will outline ways to walk in the Spirit so that the fruit grows naturally because we can’t produce it ourselves. May our lives display a mixed berry blend of the fruit of the Spirit as we taste and see that the Lord is good.
 

• Which fruit of the Spirit are you most interested to learn more about?
• Which fruit is the hardest to display in your life?
• How do you connect with the Holy Spirit so your life yields spiritual fruit?
  

The brilliance of a thousand points of light lifted my spirit as I sang along at a concert. Our voices melded to create a melody that reached the heavens. I’d flown south to visit friends to attend Winter Jam with various Christian artists. One singer, Matthew West, encouraged people to take out their phones and turn on their flashlights. The entire arena lit up as people swayed their devices in the air.

I relished the light show on the other side, but didn’t see any reason to shine mine with so many others engaged. Then I realized that if I didn’t hold up my phone, the people across from me wouldn’t have the chance to appreciate my light. So, I dug out my phone, switched on the app, and proudly waved my hands high so that people could savor the moment of praise.

We can often feel unmotivated to get involved with things like serving in the church or calling someone having a hard day. We can either dismiss them as too small or think someone else will do the work. Yet, the Lord has called every believer to shine their light. Matthew 5:16 says, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (NKJV).

When we care for others, it’s not so that we will feel good about ourselves or look virtuous to others. It’s to point people to the love of God that we’ve received and can’t help but share. Others recognize a difference in us than the world when we sacrificially give rather than hoard our time, energy, and talents. May our lives radiate the love of Christ so that others may glorify God.

• What can you do this week to shine your light for the Lord?
  

While I used to be a gym buff with growing muscles, I recently moved. Because I didn’t have a friend to spot me, looking for a gym wasn’t a priority. Despite not working out, I’ve lost weight. Sadly, I lost muscle instead of fat.

When we don’t exercise our physical muscles, they atrophy. The same thing happens when we don’t use our spiritual muscles—they also atrophy.

If life is easy and everything goes as we desire, we don’t have to exercise faith. We can enjoy our days as they come. We see good things and don’t worry.

Second Corinthians 5:7 says, “For we walk by faith, not by sight” (NKJV). If we only trust God when things look nice, that’s not exercising any faith.

On the other hand, when the future seems uncertain and we don’t understand what God is doing, then we have to lean into faith.

Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV) defines faith this way: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Faith is what we carry to the bank even when holding nothing in our hands yet.

In areas where God has come through before, like finding a job, it’s easier to trust because He has an established track record of provision. At other times, when I feel like my prayers hit the ceiling because I’ve seen so little action, there I must exercise faith.

Hebrews 11:6 says, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (NKJV).

Because we want to please God, we must exercise faith. We must believe that He exists, and will reward those who seek hard after Him. Not earnestly seek the laundry list of things we want the Lord to do for us, but seek God personally for a deeper relationship.

Whatever we think we desire, our true purpose in any waiting season is to know God better.
When we see no hope to reach our dreams, yet still trust God, that binds our hearts to Him. We lean on His strength instead of our own.

The next time you don’t see what you want, envision doing physical exercise as you talk to the Lord. Lift those weights up to the Lord and leave them with Him to carry. Imagine His hand under yours, holding the load while your muscles grow.

When we rely on God, He does the heavy lifting while we rest in His arms. And our faith grows instead of running out. May we exercise faith by surrendering our desires to the Lord and resting in His timing and ways for provision.

• What helps you grow your faith?
• Which verses encourage you the most when you need to exercise faith?

I have many unknowns in my life.

I don’t know where I’ll work in three months. I don’t know who will rent my house. I don’t know where I’ll go to church. There’s a lot I don’t know.

When I focus on the unknowns, God calls me to raise my head. It doesn’t matter what I don’t know, because of Who I do know.

God reminds me of His character in Isaiah 46:9-10, “Remember the former things of old, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure’” (NKJV).

Remembering God’s faithfulness to me in the past helps me to remain peaceful in the present. I recall previously having to rent my house. Even though it sat empty for a couple of months, the people who moved in were wonderful. They treated my house well and always paid rent on time. If the Lord came through before, He will come through again. Also, the Lord has always given me a job. He has the right position waiting for me at the right time. I have to be patient.

Additionally, I serve the God of the universe, the One who has done wonders from old. No one is like Him. He doesn’t only know the future; He declares the end from the beginning. What He says will be. 

These truths about God’s character set my spinning mind at rest. I don’t need all the answers yet. The Lord has a good plan to get me where He needs me for His purposes. While I want to know the details, I can trust that God has already ordered my steps. His plans will come to pass. His desires will be fulfilled.

Are you in a season of unknowns? Wishing for answers and hoping for a breakthrough? Know that God will complete the purposes that He has for you and rest in His sovereignty.

• Share a story of a time when God was faithful in your life. How does His past faithfulness encourage you in your current circumstances?
  

Are you seeking God for breakthrough or have big decisions to make? Maybe you’ve done a 24-hour water fast and realize you can’t keep that up long term. Consider a Daniel fast.

What is a Daniel Fast? Daniel 10:2-3 says, “In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks. I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled” (NKJV).  He sought the Lord for wisdom about when the captivity of the Israelites would end. For something so momentous, he remained in a state of prayer.

Typically, a Daniel fast lasts 21 days where the person eats a restrictive vegan diet with no added sugars or preservatives and only whole grains. No fried food, just baked.

My youngest sister introduced me to the Daniel fast when we lived together. I had conducted short-term water-only fasts for big decisions, but hadn’t embarked on any long-term fasts.

My first Daniel fast was seven days. I had no idea what I was doing. I ate oatmeal with peanut butter every day and quickly lost energy. Microwave meals (my previous standard diet) were not permitted. Fortunately, my sister made several dishes like sweet potato curry so I didn’t run out of nutrients.

After several shorter Daniel fasts with my sister supplementing my oatmeal, I moved. In my new town, a friend encouraged me that if I wanted breakthrough in a certain area, I should do a long fast. I wanted answers, so I decided to try.

I went all in with a 45-day fast, including a day off for Thanksgiving with my family. After weeks of no sugar, dairy, or meat, my stomach ached from the feast. When coming off the fast, reintroduce foods gradually. I started the fast mainly eating oatmeal, but by the end I found Daniel-friendly recipes that I still enjoy. While I didn’t receive immediate answers, I learned to cook vegan. Sometimes, God answers what we need and not what we want.

Here are non-exhaustive lists of what to eat or not:

Examples of Allowable Foods

Grains – Whole grain wheat, steel cut or whole oats, whole grain brown rice, whole wheat pasta, quinoa, whole wheat couscous, corn, baked corn chips without preservatives,
Beans – Black beans, chickpeas, kidney beans, black eyed peas, great northern beans, legumes, lentils
Nuts - cashews, peanuts, walnuts, pecans, pistachios, macadamia nuts, seeds
Fruits – pears, apples, oranges, peaches, berries, bananas, avocado
Vegetables – spinach, lettuce, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, corn, broccoli, cauliflower, green beans

Some people debate if coffee is permissible because it could be considered a luxury. For me to honor God, I need coffee. I believe as a bean from the ground, it counts as a natural food. However, I have only one black cup with no sugar or cream, a sacrifice for me. Still, if coffee violates your conscience, don’t drink it. If you regularly consume caffeine, I recommend weaning off it before the fast so you don’t get withdrawal headaches.

Examples of Foods Not Allowed

Meat – beef, chicken, pork, turkey, venison, fish
Dairy – milk, cheese, eggs, sour cream, coffee creamer
Grains – Anything made of enriched white flour like pasta or bread, Israeli couscous, orzo
Sweets – Candy, high-fructose corn syrup, sugar, honey, agave, aspartame, or stevia. No added sugars, only natural sugars like those already found in berries or fruit
Alcohol
Preservatives

Did you know that sugar and preservatives are in almost every food? I never study the ingredients of food as much as I do during a Daniel fast. I buy chickpeas from Target and black beans from Aldi because black beans at Target have preservatives. Vegetable broth is my secret ingredient for brown rice, quinoa, and couscous to enhance the taste. Many broths include sugar or preservatives, but Progressive and Trader Joe’s vegetable broths are Daniel friendly.

Here are links to some of my favorite recipes:

Sweet Potato and Chickpea Stew
https://www.healthy-liv.com/sweet-potato-and-chickpea-stew/
One Pan Mexican Quinoa
https://damndelicious.net/2014/04/09/one-pan-mexican-quinoa/
Chickpea Tortilla Soup
https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/chickpea-tortilla-soup/
Vegan Three-Bean Chili
https://www.hauteandhealthyliving.com/vegan-3-bean-chili/

Three Cautions with Fasting

First, I want to caution again fasting too much. If your body needs certain nutrients to be healthy, please get supplements. The fast should not ruin your health, but grow you closer to God.  

Another caution: fasting is not intended as a means to manipulate God. We don’t fast to impress God so He bends to our wills. Instead, we align to His holiness. Somehow the sacrifice of food opens spiritual windows to hear God in ways impossible when we are satisfied with the world.

My third cautionary tale may sound odd, but I can find myself fasting without the right mindset. Zechariah 7:4-7 says, “Then the word of the Lord of hosts came to me, saying, “Say to all the people of the land, and to the priests: ‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months during those seventy years, did you really fast for Me—for Me? When you eat and when you drink, do you not eat and drink for yourselves? Should you not have obeyed the words which the Lord proclaimed through the former prophets when Jerusalem and the cities around it were inhabited and prosperous, and the South and the Lowland were inhabited?’ (NKJV)”

Zechariah warned the Israelites that they fasted because for themselves and not God. They defied God’s commands and expected God to answer because they fasted. While I don’t disobey God’s directives while fasting, I don’t want to become complacent instead of maintaining a heart posture of prayer.

Sometimes in a long fast, I get into routine and can skip the deeper moments of communion with the Lord. It’s hard to focus in a 30-day fast unless you are in a dire crisis. I’m currently in a Daniel fast during Ramadan to pray for Muslims to know Jesus. I have an amazing prayer guide to help me intercede for their salvation. Yet, I don’t want to just go through the motions.

Another good opportunity for a Daniel fast is Lent. Because I’m fasting food for Ramadan, which overlaps with Lent, I gave up fiction for Lent this year. Whenever you need to seek the Lord for wisdom and direction, consider a Daniel fast. May the Lord bless you as you embark on your Daniel fast so you know Him deeper in the process.

• Have you ever tried a Daniel fast? How did it go?
• What questions to you have about a Daniel fast? I’m happy to help with the nuances

Recently, I received bad news and struggled to process its implications. My mind started to swirl into ugly places. A friend asked me to go to the gym. I agreed, thinking it would relieve stress.
As I walked towards the elliptical, she recognized something was wrong. I couldn’t form words, so she asked if I wanted her to start praising God. I nodded.

“We praise God for His faithfulness. He is Jehovah-Jireh, Our Provider. He is Jehovah-Nissi, Our Banner who fights for us. God has always made a way, and will continue to do so. We trust God because of Who He is and all He has done….”

While she praised, the atmosphere shifted. The fog that stifled my head and sucked out my hope lifted. Instead, I remembered the character of God and His proven track record. While the things I heard were mind-boggling, God was still greater.

The longer we praised together, the deeper we entered His presence. Psalm 100:4 says, “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name” (KJV). God inhabits the praise of His people. We brought the glory of the Lord into the gym as we thanked God for what He had done and blessed His holy name.

Because God’s mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:23), each day we have another opportunity to announce the goodness of God. We aren’t to keep these testimonies to ourselves. Psalm 149:1 says, “Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song, And His praise in the assembly of saints” (NKJV). We should sing aloud of His greatness with other faithful believers. Sharing our testimonies helps build the faith of those around us. If God helped us, He will help others as well.

Another reason the praise was so powerful was because we rejoiced together. Recent neuroscience tells us that joy is built in the context of community. Because of mirror neurons, we can’t learn new things from watching ourselves. Instead, as we look to others, we see what they do and copy it. When those around us worship through their storms, our lips pour out praise too.

When something good happens, our natural tendency is to want to tell others. Psalm 66:16 says, “Come and hear, all you who fear God, And I will declare what He has done for my soul” (NKJV). As we declare the deeds of the Lord to our friends, the praise multiplies. I enjoy sharing the good things that happened to me, you enjoyed hearing them, and God rejoiced at the recognition He rightfully deserves. Its win, win, win!

Though I entered the gym with a heavy heart, my spirit lifted after a round of praise. While I didn’t know what the future held, I knew who held my future. I would choose to offer a sacrifice of praise instead of wallowing in doubt. Psalm 107:2 says, “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy” (NKJV).

I will worship through the storm, knowing the Lord had already redeemed me from the enemy. May we focus on the Lord and trust in His goodness (Isaiah 26:3) no matter what threatens us. Then we receive His peace that passes understanding that guards our hearts (Philippians 4:7).

• What good things has the Lord done for you? Please share them below so we may rejoice with you and worship the Lord together.

Recently, I watched a potter take a large lump of clay and hand build it into four unique items. As he worked his wheel, each time he began a new project, he wet the clay. Then he pulled the clay up and pressed it down several times before he formed the pieces.

My friend explained that when the clay sits for a while, the molecules align in a way that makes the vessel weak if thrown immediately. Instead, the potter has to push and pull the clay to mix the molecules so they strengthen. Without the tension, the vessels could easily crack in the kiln.
Likewise, God knows we need some stress to build resilience. He doesn’t allow hardship to beat us down. Instead, He realigns our priorities so they don’t break under fire. James 1:2-4 says, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” (NKJV).

The trials of our lives allow us to exercise our faith. When we don’t exercise our muscles, they atrophy. The same truth holds with our faith; we have to use it or it fades. God wants us trust Him completely as vessel ready for His service.

I also enjoyed watching the potter make four distinct things from the same lump of clay. First, he formed a little vase with frills around the edges. Next, he formed a candle stick, also ruffled. The third item was a plate. The last item was hard to identify initially. Only a small amount of clay remained, and he formed a small jug with a slot at the top. Apparently, street vendors used these banks to collect change.

I wonder what the potter thought as each item formed. He knew exactly what each item would be as he worked. The same way, our Heavenly Father forms us as clay in His hands. Isaiah 64:8 says, “But now, O Lord, You are our Father; We are the clay, and You our potter; And all we are the work of Your hand” (NKJV). The Lord who made us in His hands, knows the best way to shape our lives.

Sometimes, I argue with my Maker. I’ve complained to God when things haven’t happened in the timing or way that I wanted. Romans 9:20-21 says, “But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?” Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?” (NKJV)

God has different purposes for different people. The small vase wouldn’t be useful as a candlestick. Each item has its own purpose. God designs some to hold flowers and others to hold candles. Both bring joy to others, but in unique ways. The Lord’s design for our lives is best because He knows how to use us best. May the lean into the good works He designed us to do so our lives honor Him daily.

• Have you ever compared yourself to someone else? How does remembering that God fashioned us by hand for His purposes help you enjoy your present circumstances?
  

I’ve recently become fascinated by a lone tree in a Middle Eastern desert called the “Tree of Life.” While not the original from the Garden of Eden, this Prosopis cineraria has lived over four hundred years with almost no rain in Bahrain. This enormous mesquite keeps expanding, stretching its branches to snuff out the sand. We learn several lessons about subsistence, resilience, and connecting with God from this tree:

1. We Need Deep Wells of Water

“Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.” -- Psalm 1:1-3, NKJV

David described a similar tree in Psalm 1. The man who delights in the Lord will be a tree that grows fruit in its season and won’t wither. God’s Word nourishes our minds with truth the way water feeds trees. People speculate that the Tree of Life’s 160-feet deep roots may stretch far enough reach the buried water table. When we deal with hardship, we have to dig deep to find our source of strength. Often in trials the Holy Spirit has recalled verses I memorized as a child to comfort my soul. These reservoirs of truth still feed my heart today. Every time I meditate on God’s Word, it creates sustenance for me to consume in drought. When we seek Him, God provides the hope we need.

2. Resistance Builds Resilience

“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” – James 1:2-4, NASB 1995

James highlights that going through trials results in endurance. While the tree in Bahrain in doesn’t have much water, it has wind. Scientists once tried to grow trees in a closed environment without wind. They discovered that while these trees grew quickly, they didn’t form deep root systems. As their heights outpaced their depths, they toppled over and died. The trees needed resistance to strengthen their bark and roots. Likewise, we need a little rustling to remind us to depend on God’s strength. He allows our faith to be tested so that we can build endurance to withstand hardships. Our faith atrophies if we don’t exercise it. We keep growing spiritual muscles by persevering well. Also, God doesn’t want us to pride ourselves on our own abilities, but rely on Him alone to stand tall.

3. A Twig Bears No Leaves Apart from the Trunk

“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. ‘I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.’” -- John 15:4-5, NKJV

John reminds us to abide in Christ because apart from Him we can do nothing. When we remain in right relationship with God, we draw strength from hidden reserves of power to flourish in dry places. Tapping into the joy of the Lord as the source of our strength (Nehemiah 8:10) fuels our lives in the desert places. When twigs break off branches, they quit growing leaves. We can’t grow spiritual fruit if we separate ourselves from the branch of Christ. Disciplining ourselves to stay in the Word yields an abundant harvest of spiritual fruit.

God nourishes the Tree of Life with water and uses wind to build endurance so it can stand long and strong. May we also remain attached to the trunk of Christ and receive His food for our souls, so we may honor Him.

• What actions will you take this week to water your soul?
• How has God used trials in your life to build endurance?
• Are there any things that divide your attention from connecting to the Lord? If so, what can you do to put your focus back on Christ?