Trust in the Lord and do good.
Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.
Take delight in the Lord,
and He will give you your heart’s desires.
Commit everything you do to the Lord.
Trust Him, and He will help you.
Psalm 37:3-5
I am going through a mini-Bible study from the Summit Church with some of my kiddos. It’s called Taste and See. And it’s 31 daily scripture passages, one for each day of the month.
The idea is simple:
– Read the passage.
– Put the passage into your own words.
– Consider what it is saying about you and about God.
– Pray about what God might be using the passage to tell you specifically.
It’s been surprisingly rich.
Yesterday, Psalm 37:3-5 was the scripture selection. Asher and I sat together and read through it, then discussed it. What struck me most is how God gives us directives — trust in the Lord, take delight in the Lord, commit everything to the Lord. Then the blessings will flow. But don’t so many of us want the blessings to flow first? And then we’ll obey?
As Asher and I talked (okay, I mostly talked, Asher mostly listened – bless that sweet boy) I had a visual flash in my mind. It was a little tomato plant – protected from the wind and the rain by a little baby-tomato-plant-protection-thingy until it is big enough to be on its own, out in the open.
And it made me think. Right now Asher is protected. His life doesn’t include wind and rain and scorching heat. And the purpose of this protection is to give him time and opportunity to grow. Not to simply ‘ride it out’ and enjoy the lack of trials and tribulations, but to put roots down, deep roots, for the future. Because we can be sure that the roof is going to come off. The storms will rage, the rains will fall and the winds will blow. And then we will be either incredibly grateful for the roots we have purposed to grow, or be terribly remorseful that we did not do more to grow when we had the opportunity.
I did a little research on tomato plants. They should be sown indoors until they have at least 2 sets of leaves. They need a special fertilizer. Just the right amount of moisture. Just the right amount of sun. And before they are transplanted outside completely, they should spend a week acclimating to the new surroundings while still remaining sheltered.
Wow. That’s a lot of protecting and preparing.
I am reminded of the eternal significance of my job as a mom. To shelter. To nourish. To provide light. All intended to work together to encourage growth, especially at the roots. Keeping my primary goal for them – to be transplanted outside to ultimately grow and bear fruit – in mind. And to use the time that I have my children at home with me wisely. Because a day is coming when they will have to weather the storm unprotected and I pray that their roots are mature enough to hold firm.
And I want to lead by example. Because isn’t what we do so much more of a witness than what we say? I want to be living proof that when you do your best to obey God, following His directives to trust Him, take delight in Him and commit everything to Him, His blessings will follow. Including the most important blessing of all: a deep and abiding love for Him based on an understanding of how wondrous, worthy and loving our God truly is.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. — Deuteronomy 6:5-9
Kristy says
What – I’ve been following your blog for a few years now, and looks like we live in the same general vicinity?! Just moved here a year ago, and now you all are leaving! Oh well!
kristy
Patricia/NYC says
You are so very blessed to be so very wise! Great post, Stefanie, one that has resonated with me deeply. Thank you!!
Stef says
Thanks for sharing this resource, I’m going to try to do this study with my kiddos. I love all the Bible studies/resources you’ve shared so far, if you have devotions/studies that are geared toward kids that you could recommend, that would be wonderful!
tish says
EXACTLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dusty says
Awesome!
Tanya Thom says
Well, as you can see, I am still perusing backwards through your blog ‘catching up’ and I came across this post and paused as I read, and re-read your words. I think I may print this one off. It ministered to my heart deeper than you know, and was exactly what I needed to read tonight.
God bless you my friend. The more I keep reading, the more I realize how VERY much I have missed your Godly wisdom. You are truly a vessel for God to work through as you live out the life He has set before you and share it with all of us.
OXO,
Tanya