Saturday, March 05, 2005
The Plantings Of Grace
Who doesn't long for salvation? Who doesn't wish for happiness? Sometimes our burdens seems just too heavy. It's a daily struggle, a daily test of the strength of our faith in the Lord. But everyday is also a grace, a new chance to go out and love Him. A renewed spirit to see the world and another opportunity to make a difference ~ all to testify the greatness of His love. An everyday prayer I would start from today, 'create in me a pure heart Lord'...
Create in me a pure heart, O God,and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
bible - psalm 51:10-12 - king david
Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree. —Isaiah 55:13
Where cynicism once grew, hope and optimism can begin to emerge. Where sarcasm thrived, gentle words of healing can appear. Where lust grew rampant and unrestrained, pure love can spring up. This—a transformed life—is the living and lasting sign of God's work, the memorial He seeks (Isaiah 55:13).
Do you long for this kind of transformation in your life? Then "seek the Lord while He may be found" (v.6). There are moments when we grow tired of the evil within us, and our heart aches for holiness. This is God calling, reminding us that He is near. At such times we must sink our roots deep into God's Word and ask Him to conform us to His likeness. He says that "as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and . . . water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, . . . so shall [His] word be that goes forth from [His] mouth" (vv.10-11).
Seek the Lord while He may be found. Plantings of grace can replace the thorns of our sinful nature. —David Roper
