In my last blog post, I shared the importance of decisions in conjunction with determining God’s will for our life. But is this the right question? Am I restricting my thinking by asking God this enormous question: “God, what is your will for my life?” Or is the right question, “God, what is your purpose for my life?”

I believe asking the right question will lead us to the answer of knowing God’s will. We will also discover our silent weapon provided by God for our use if we only use it! Sound confusing? Let us begin our journey in discovering the silent weapon God has given us.

Once we become God’s child, saved through the precious blood of His Son, Jesus Christ, what is God most interested in after our salvation? What is His plan?

Why do we encounter trials, persecution, rejection, and the list goes on? What is God doing anyway? Did He not tell us in John 10:10 that His purpose in coming was to give us a rich and satisfying life – in abundance, full until it overflows?

Romans 8:29 tells us that God plans to conform us to the image of His Son – someone with the character of Jesus. (You might want to check out 1 Peter 2:15; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; Colossians 1: 9-10; Ephesians 5: 15-17)

So what does God use to build our character? When asked this question, my first response is that He uses trials, tribulations, difficulties – translated circumstances. We know this is true from passages such as James 1: 2-3; 1 Peter 1: 6-7. God unquestionably uses trials to grow our faith, to build our character.

We also know that we experience trials and difficulties because of our own foolishness (Galatians 6:7-9) and because it is God’s discipline (Hebrews 12:6).

But is my thinking restricted – not incorrect, just limited? Consider this possibility: God’s primary tool for building the character of His Son in us is

DECISION MAKING

Have you ever wished that you could open your Bible and find a chapter and verse that would say when buying a home, do this? Or you want to know what college or tech school to attend or what job to accept, do this. And here is a big one – indeed, He could have included a section entitled, “finding your spouse”!

Instead, Scripture tells us about God’s character;

He shows us His heart.

As we fellowship with Him, we can truly hear His heartbeat;

follow His footsteps!

Think about how many decisions you make in one day from what time to get up, what to wear, what to eat, what to do, which book to read, what to do in your free time, and the list goes on and on. Every single decision we make evolves into another decision and another.

Our character is shaped through the decisions that we make – both large and small. Because this is God’s character-forming tool, we no longer have to be afraid to fail. No longer the what if’s loom over our head. We begin to understand with each decision, we are given a new opportunity to look for God’s door of blessing – a new adventure where He is already present. Viewing decisions with this perspective helps me to realize perfection is no longer necessary – never demanded by God.

God has given us a silent weapon to enable us to make decisions. And what is that weapon?

WISDOM

What is wisdom? How would you define wisdom? My first answer would be to quote Proverbs 9:10, “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” Have you ever read through Psalm and Proverbs and noticed how often the word ‘wisdom’ used?

As defined by Webster’s 1828 Dictionary, “wisdom is the correct use or exercise of knowledge, the choice of worthy possibilities, and the best means to accomplish them. It is discerning or judging what is most just, proper, and beneficial. It is the exercise of sound judgment either in avoiding evils or attempting good”.

From my Expository Dictionary of Bible Words: “wisdom is the divine perspective available to and applied by believers to the issues of their lives. It is taking the knowledge that we have and treating it with spiritual wisdom and insight so that we live a life worthy of the Lord and please Him in every way (Colossians 1:10). Both the Old and New Testament make it clear that only when our life is oriented to God and His revealed viewpoint is applied to our daily experience can we become wise”.

Thus, wisdom gained by experience is of immeasurable value. And how do we gain experience apart from making decisions – hundreds of decisions every single day.

Consider this as a new principle for your daily life: “God’s will for your life is ‘You Decide.’ Often when we pray for guidance and direction, God’s answer is, “You decide. All your options are within My character and My heart. You decide.” God knows that we will grow more by deciding than by getting a memo from heaven telling us exactly which open door to choose from the many doors available to us.

Decision-making can be not only fearful, but it can be tiring as well. We want the freedom to choose, but we dread making a mistake that could wreck our lives. We dislike the pressure of responsibility—the possibility of being wrong. Decisions wear us out!

But what happens when we make a mistake?

What does God do next?

Does He give up on us?

                                         NEVER!

God forgives and recalculates our route – kind of like my GPS when I make a wrong turn – recalculating! Accept this reality: It is not if I make a terrible decision. Instead, it is about when I make a terrible decision. As soon as I accept my responsibility and own up to my wrong choice, God will recalculate my route and put me back on His journey of character building. (Proverbs 24:16; 2 Corinthians 4: 9, 16-18; Psalm 34:7)

Wisdom is like a river.

A river’s power is its ability to adapt to its environment and change its course when necessary to reach its intended destination. By pondering the river’s flow, we see that it is not always a straight path that leads me to where I want to go. Whether the river is broad or narrow, no matter how many zigs and zags it may make, it is always moving towards its intended destination.

And what is our destination – our purpose? God is conforming us to the image of His Son, building His character within us – accomplished through our daily choices.

Wisdom is not gained in a moment but in an endless number of moments when we make choices. Wisdom is the ability to get to the core of a problem. It simplifies, clarifies, untangles, unshackles, illuminates, liberates, enlightens. It always finds a way through the mess that I have made. Likely it will not be the easiest way, but God’s footprints mark the path.

How do I apply the knowledge I have gained through studying Scripture, God’s character, His heart? By making countless daily choices.

How many times have you asked yourself or heard others say: “If I only knew God’s will for my life. I don’t know whether to turn to the left, to the right, or to move straight ahead or somewhere in between?” When faced with many good choices, this is especially true. For example, what college to attend, where to go on vacation, choosing between 2 or more excellent career opportunities, which car to buy, which home, and the list goes on.

How important is one decision?

Can one decision truly determine my destiny?

We are not talking about those times when we allow our flesh or wrong desires to manipulate us into making choices that are clearly stated in His Word as crossing God’s boundary of righteousness. We would all agree that choosing to sin will result in consequences that can change our hoped-for destiny in life.

We must not allow the fear of being outside of God’s will to paralyze us. God’s will is good, perfect, and acceptable. Romans 12:2, “As you mature spiritually, be transformed and progressively changed by the renewing of your mind. Focus on godly values and ethical attitudes, so that you may prove for yourselves what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect in His plan and purpose for you.”

Recently I was reading about knowing God’s will, and I was referred to Philippians 4: 8-9. I have always used this passage to help me change my wrong thought patterns.

The Word instructs us to center our thoughts or focus on those confirmed by His Word; those that are true, honorable, right,  pure, wholesome, lovely, and bring peace. Think continually about things that are worthy of praise and plant them in your heart.

The author stated that I could not only change my thought patterns by applying this passage, but I could also determine God’s will for my life. I remember thinking – ‘how in the world did he get that out of this passage’?

Now before you decide that I am not correctly applying Scripture, hear me out. I would like to hear what you think about what I am about to share.

Have you ever noticed how often God repeats His instructions in the Word; He presents the same truth or principle, over and over, just using different words. Think about the Fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5. We are told that we will not fulfill the flesh’s deeds if the Spirit leads us and that His life, the Fruit of the Spirit, will be evident in our walk.

Consider 2 Peter 1: 5-10. We are instructed to add to our faith or supplement our faith with virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love. If we do this, we will grow spiritually, and we will live a life that inspires and encourages others in their faith.

Both Scripture passages give us instructions on how we can deepen our walk with the Lord; to have a continuing, intimate relationship with God. As you read through these passages, what is the common thread that runs through each one?

The words describe God’s character, God’s heart.

I am reminded of Psalm 37:4, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” What does it mean to you to delight yourself in the Lord?

A few meanings from Webster’s 1828 dictionary: Delight is a more permanent pleasure than joy and not dependent on sudden excitement. To please highly, to give or afford high satisfaction or joy; to receive great pleasure in, to have or take great pleasure; to be incredibly pleased or rejoiced.

I believe that God has shown us in His Word that He finds pleasure in not only our obedience but also in taking the time to learn about His character, to know His heart so that we reflect both His character and His heart in our relationships.

Note what Jonathan’s armor-bearer replied in 1 Samuel 14:7 when he was invited to join Jonathan in fighting the Philistines; his response was, “do everything that is in your heart. Here I am with you in whatever you think best.” His armor-bearer completely trusted Jonathan’s decision, and he willingly followed him into battle at the risk of his own life.

Do I know God’s heart like that? How often have I said to God, ‘do everything that is in Your heart; here I am with You in whatever You think best.’ It is when we find pleasure in our heavenly Father, when we take the time to delight ourselves in His ways, His heart, that God’s desires become our desires.

I am willing to follow Him wherever He leads – no matter the risk to me.

What does all this have to do with knowing God’s will and Philippians 4: 8-9? These verses describe God’s heart, His character. He is everything and more.

As I look at the unique and excellent options before me, how do these lead me to know His will?

First: because each choice reflects the heart of God, I can know that whatever decision I make, it will be God’s will. I do not believe that God has only one good, perfect and acceptable will for our lives. If that were true, would any of us be in the center of God’s perfect, good, suitable, and pleasing will? Of course not!

Instead of fretting over which one God would have me choose, instead see them all as noble, excellent, and pleasing. God will be pleased with whatever one I prefer.

Once that is settled, what is the next step? How do I decide? 

Have you ever stopped to consider what you are passionate about, what excites you, what are your dreams?

I encourage you to take the time to answer that question. For many years I have expressed that my passion is to share God’s Word to women, teaching the truth, and seeing women’s lives be transformed! Many different avenues are possible to fulfill my passion. It can be within the body of Christ, outside the church, on the internet, through cards, a blog, and the list goes on and on. I am discovering all the many, many avenues available to me as I continue to follow my passion, journey, and destiny.

So the next time you wonder what God’s will is as you face a decision, look at each option; think about your motivation for choosing your most desired choice.

Does it fulfill your passion?

Does it meet the test of God’s heart, God’s character?

If you can answer ‘yes’ to these questions, you can know that your Heavenly Father is smiling in the heavenlies.

WELCOME 2021! 

There is something about the arrival of a new year; we often see it as a new beginning. We may even write out a list of resolutions or goals for the new year, an opportunity to begin anew. I wonder where we got the idea that the new year will bring with it the moment we have been waiting to start our change?

Did anything change from 12:59 pm on 12-31-20 to 12:01 am on 1-1-21?

Some appropriate questions to ask ourselves about change might be: “When can I make changes? How do I begin? What about consistency?”

For years a stronghold that I held in my mind in regards to dieting was this: After eating something from the “no, no” list, I would say to myself: “This day is over, it is ruined; it is wrecked. I will start again tomorrow because tomorrow is a new day. I will do better tomorrow – or maybe next week I will begin, or next month.”

Where did I get the idea that one bad or wrong decision must be followed by another–that eating junk food in one moment meant I had to continue eating junk food the rest of the day?   I  kept using this excuse so that I  abdicated my responsibility in changing the direction of my life.

What do I mean?

To continue submitting to my addiction,  I concluded that once a day is ruined by a wrong choice, a dreaded phone call, an argument, etc., the day has lost all purpose and value. I will wait for tomorrow because as Scarlett O’Hara says, “it is a new day,” and everything will be unique and fresh. 

The other day, I heard a speaker clarify a passage in Ecclesiastes. I don’t know about you, but the book of Ecclesiastes is not a book that I have spent a great deal of time studying. Honestly, I have difficulty connecting the dots between understanding and applying what I have read.

Listen to Ecclesiastes 11:3b: “If a tree falls to the south or the north, in the place where the tree falls, there it shall lie.”

I have some experience with falling trees, especially since moving to Yelm. My son, David, is my personal lumberjack. When he prepares to drop a tree, he studies the tree from all angles and considers all possibilities of where that tree may land. He knows at what angle to cut so that the tree will fall precisely where he wants. So what does being a lumberjack have to do with Solomon’s words? It is evident to me that wherever a tree falls, there it will lie.

So what is the application?

Could Solomon be teaching us that whatever condition we find ourselves in at this moment is because we made choices to the right or the left? When I made a decision, did I consider the consequences of that decision? Did I listen to the Spirit warning me that my tree was going to land where I did not want it to drop if I acted on my choice?

I believe that Solomon is giving us this illustration to teach us that we do not have to wait until tomorrow to change the direction of our lives. We can choose in an instant; every moment of every day is new, never experienced. It is up to us to determine what we do with that moment!

Remember Jonathan, King Saul’s son, and David’s closest and dearest friend? Jonathan knew His God; He knew God’s character and His heart. God did not intend for His people to live in bondage, to be terrified by the enemy. So what did Jonathan do? He seized the moment, and in an instant, set victory into motion. (See 1 Samuel 14.)

Yes, Jonathan and his armor-bearer were victorious. The Philistines were defeated while his father, the king, 600 soldiers, and the Lord’s priest, Ahijah, were sleeping under the pomegranate tree.

Jonathan and his armor-bearer were exhausted from battle. They became weak as they traveled through the forest, pursuing the Philistines. What did God do? On the forest floor, they found honey, and after eating God’s provision, they were refreshed, nourished, and inspired to continue their pursuit. 

Earlier, unknown to Jonathan, his father, Saul, had issued a foolish–yes, stupid–command placing his soldiers under oath that no one was to eat all day long until he had full revenge on his enemies (vs. 22-26). His army was exhausted. Did Saul consider the consequences of his command – his ruling? He was more concerned about how he looked to others, how his son, Jonathan, had overshadowed him. He had to save face. He was wearing the religious mask of “Look how holy I am! Look how spiritual I am!” Yes, God had blessed him and the nation of Israel with the victory. But whose victory was it? Saul did not win the victory. It was God’s victory.

Jonathan did not sit on the sidelines and wait for success to happen. No, he made a decision – to move with God. Johnathan seized the moment, realizing its urgency. He moved with the heart of God, the character of God.

At the same time, his father had allowed fear and his lack of knowledge about the heart and character of God to paralyze him. It was easier for him to become defensive and to wear a mask.

How many times I have made precisely the same decision. I have worn many masks in my lifetime. Any of these sound familiar?

Using humor, being the funny person in the room to divert attention away from my insecurities.

Or the need to be just like everyone else often referred to as “keeping up with the Joneses.”

Ever numbed yourself with food, alcohol, drugs, shopping, social media, etc.? I wore this mask often. I became numb to my fears, anxieties, my emotions through food, watching television.

And yes, I, too, have worn the religious mask. My focus became what I could do for God, not what God does for me. 

Another disguise that I often wore was the “I’m fine” defense—pretending that everything is just great. That way, no one would know the real Neva.

          I believed I was protecting myself; I was afraid to be vulnerable!

In this new year, I have asked myself this question: Will I be an observer to life, sit on the sidelines and watch others, or will I live life?

To follow Jesus is to move with God, as Jonathan did. To follow Jesus means to seize the divine moment that God places before me, just as Jonathan did.

Learn the value of each day.

Within each day, God-given opportunities are waiting to unfold. Every 24 hours are full of divine moments. From the sidelines, these moments look ordinary, but when I seize them, they become extraordinary. Do not wait to begin a change.

Your moment to start is NOW!

Have you ever wondered why it seems that you are not growing spiritually? Do you seem to be going backward, not making any spiritual headway? Maybe it has something to do with the clothes you are wearing.

You might want to check yourself against James 1: 19-21. My paraphrase of this passage is:

“My beloved brethren in the Lord, you must be a careful, thoughtful listener; slow to speak, carefully choosing your words; slow to get angry; rather be patient, reflective, forgiving because the resentful, deep-seated human anger does not produce the standard of behavior God requires from us. With a humble, meek, and gentle spirit, receive the word of God.”

Also, James 3:13. Again my translation: “Who among you is wise and understanding?  Give evidence or show proof of it for others to see by your good behavior, your deeds in the gentleness of wisdom, which is the ability to view life from God’s perspective.”

What in the world does it mean to show our deeds in the gentleness of wisdom? First of all, wisdom is not measured by the amount of education one has or the number of degrees hanging on their walls.

Nor is it the amount of knowledge we carry around in our minds; it has nothing to do with intelligence, or what our IQ may be. Rather it is understanding the Word of God and knowing how to apply truth in our every day relationships and interactions. The words become action; we are “living epistles read by everyone.” (2 Corinthians 3: 2)

The Pharisees described Jesus as a man of integrity in Mark 12:14. “Teacher, we know that You are truthful and have no personal bias toward anyone; for You are not influenced by outward appearances or social status, but in truth, You teach the way of God.” He lived what He taught. He was the same person no matter who crossed His path, no matter the situation; He was transparent to all.

When you receive the Word with meekness as James 1: 21 instructs, you accept it as the voice of God speaking. You do not argue or twist it to conform to your thinking, but honor it as the Word of God. Do not assume you are living a life of genuine submission to God because you agree with God. The real test of submission is when you do not like what God requires from you because you do not agree or understand; regardless, you humbly submit to His Word. Submission is not about being powerless; it is about meekness, gentleness, humility, controlled strength. To be in complete submission and reliance on God makes us ready to receive God’s word.

James is telling us, if you want to know if someone is wise, look at their behavior. One of the indicators of wisdom, putting truth into action, is gentleness. And no one can demonstrate gentleness, who is not at the same time humble.

Remember, humility and gentleness go hand in hand; you cannot have one without the other. If a person is wise and understanding, he will demonstrate it by his gentle conduct, “deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.”  God has given every believer the Holy Spirit, who enables and empowers us to walk in the Spirit so that we will not fulfill the lust of our flesh. He will, also, create in us the desire to become the person God desires. My motivation to endure, hold fast, is my longing to have the image of God revealed in me.

Second Corinthians 5:17, tells me I am a new creature, a new man. I have been transformed with a new heart that reflects God not only in action but also in desire. God changes me from the inside out. In contrast, religion and laws work to restrain my actions from the outside in. It has never worked, and never will it work. You do not have to look very far in today’s world to understand what I mean.

Biblical gentleness should be an ever-present restraint in all our thoughts and actions. It must be developed since it is generally lacking. Here are some tests to see if you are developing gentleness:

Harshness: If you are mean in your treatment of others, if there is an absence of gentleness in your treatment of others, TAKE HEED.

Grasping: If you make sure you always get yours first, if being #1 is the subtle driving force in your life, if you care little about how your actions affect others, BEWARE.

Vengeful: When you are on the highway, do you want to get even with the driver who just rudely pulled in front of you? If you are known as someone never to cross, if you always get your “pound of flesh,” BE ON YOUR GUARD.

Uncontrolled: Do you get angry at the slightest annoyances or inconveniences? Do you blame others for your anger? Is your life a series of explosions caused by the “fools” in your life? WATCH OUT.

 TO DEVELOP GENTLENESS:

We must choose to be humble. The key to humility is in learning to see our own mistakes and weaknesses. When this occurs, we soften our attitude toward the mistakes of others.

We will forgive readily because any offense toward us is nothing compared to our offenses against God—offenses He’s already forgiven (Matthew 18:23-35). The humble and gentle attitude expresses itself in patient submissiveness to the offense, free from malice and the desire for revenge. Competition, bigotry, narrow-mindedness,  bias, prejudice, judging, and criticizing others will disappear. I come to God, not out of obligation, but out of gratitude. Humility makes no demands on God; it does not even consider any rights or stipulations!

We must choose to have restraint and control over our flesh. I must empty myself of myself, any attitude, thought, or emotion that is motivated by selfish ambition – self-centeredness.                                                                                 

Only then, can I receive all that I need from God. As we bring our actions and emotions under the supervision (control) and the power of the Holy Spirit, He will enable us to bridle our tongues as one would bridle a horse and lead it where it should go.

He will teach us how to train our feelings to respond righteously, and enable us to restrain and subdue any harshness in our temperaments.

 We must allow the Holy Spirit to develop a gentle character within us. Our abrasive conduct can only be brought under control by restraint. Still, we will never experience peace within until there is a change that takes place within our character—until we have a humble disposition or temperament that automatically prompts us to deal kindly with people.  Our attitude is shaped in the environment of humility just as our viewpoint or perception of a situation is shaped in the atmosphere of gratefulness. Our attitudes are not shaped in a vacuum. They are expressions of deeper realities within us. When we have an attitude problem, in reality, we have an arrogance problem.

Gentleness comes as we grow spiritually. As we develop love and forgiveness and learn to concentrate on people’s virtues or qualities rather than their faults, we develop gentleness.

 GOD’S DRESS CODE

Every day, for work, school, or recreation, we have to decide what to wear. But we must also make choices about another wardrobe – our attitudes and actions. If we profess to be followers of Christ, our spiritual apparel is of far greater significance than our physical clothing.

His chosen people are to clothe themselves with kindness, humility, meekness, gentleness, longsuffering. We are to demonstrate patience and forgiveness. And above all, we must put on love, which is the bond of perfection (Colossians 3: 12-14).

Do I begin each day by acknowledging Christ as the Person in charge, the One for whom I serve? Do I take time to clothe myself with attitudes that please Him, that are precious in His sight? Am I wearing what people are most longing to see: compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and love? If so, I will be dressed for success in God’s service. Gentleness is Christianity with its working clothes on.

Whose clothes am I wearing today? God’s or my own?

Can people see that Christ is in me before I tell them?

In an earlier post (11-12-20),  I described the quality of gentleness as a beauty that never fades.

There are many examples in Scripture that demonstrate the spiritual quality of gentleness in action. Before I share a few examples, take a moment. Who comes to your mind when you think of gentleness, sometimes translated meekness, power under control?

You might think of Abraham when he allowed Lot, his nephew, to choose the well-watered plains (Genesis 13: 5-12). When as second in command in Egypt, Joseph could have easily had his brothers executed, but chose the approach of gentleness instead, saying: “…you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good” (Genesis 50:20). What about David when Shimel both cursed him and threw rocks at him, yet how did David respond to his servants who wanted to kill Shimel? “Let him alone, and let him curse; for so the Lord has ordered him.” (2 Samuel 16: 11-12)

In Numbers 12:3, we read that Moses “was very humble (meek) more than all men that were on the face of the earth.” If we examine the life of Moses, we find good evidence that meekness is not weakness but strength under control.

Moses stands up to Pharaoh and his army.

He is fearless exercising leadership against the continual rebellion and stubbornness of the people. He is the most visible and influential figure in the traveling nation of Israel.

What is the context of this statement about Moses in Number 12:3? Listen to Numbers 12: 1-2: “Then Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married… So they said, “Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us also?” And the Lord heard it.”

Remember, Miriam and Aaron were Moses’ sister and brother. At first reading, it would seem that they were criticizing Moses because of whom he married, an Ethiopian woman. But as we read further, we see that Miriam was challenging Moses’ spiritual authority. It had nothing to do with Moses’ wife!

Listen again to what Mariam says in verse 2: “Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us also?” This attack attempted to put Moses down, making him seem proud. After all, it should not matter to them if the LORD had spoken only through Moses. Their actual charge was that Moses “goes about acting as if he is the only one the LORD speaks through,” accusing Moses of pride. Thus the Spirit writes: Moses “was very humble, [meek] more than all men that were on the face of the earth.”

Miriam arrogantly tries to elevate herself and her brother Aaron by saying, “Has He not spoken through us also?” Translation: “After all, God speaks to us also. Shouldn’t we get some of the credit around here?”

But was Miriam’s statement accurate?

Did the LORD only speak through Moses?

No, and yes. The LORD addressed the people through Aaron in Exodus 4:30; He spoke to Aaron in Exodus 12:1; Miriam herself communicated words inspired by God in Exodus 15:21. But in the sense of there being one leader for Israel, there was only one. Moses, under God’s hand, had the authority and the accountability to lead the people. Yes, God had spoken to Miriam and Aaron in the past – but He had not authorized them to lead the nation.

What does the meekest man on earth say to defend himself? Does he retaliate or try to vindicate himself?

• He says nothing
• He does nothing
• He does not retaliate

Instead, in confident trust, He places himself in His Creator’s hands. God answers Miriam’s accusation against Moses. He vindicates Moses in verses 6-8: “My servant Moses; He is entrusted and faithful in all My house. With him I speak directly, mouth to mouth, clearly and openly and not in riddles; and he beholds the form of the Lord. Why then were you not afraid to speak against My servant Moses?”

Listen to what happens next in verses 9-10: “So the anger of the Lord was aroused against Miriam and Aaron, and God departed. And when the cloud departed from above the tabernacle, suddenly Miriam became leprous, as white as snow.”

Moses practiced the truth of Romans 12: 17-21. “Repay no one evil for evil… Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the Lord… Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Moses neither gloats nor rejoices over his sister’s condition. Instead. he intercedes for his accuser, crying out to the Lord to “please heal her.” James 4:6 “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” And seven days later, God does heal Miriam.

You may wonder why only Miriam was punished for questioning Moses’ spiritual authority. Miriam was held more responsible because she instigated the challenge first and then enlisted Aaron to support her.  And how do I know this? Notice in the text that Miriam is named before Aaron at the start of the account.  In every other place in the Bible where their names are listed together, including later in the same report, Aaron is mentioned first. The verb “speak against” is actually in the feminine singular in Hebrew: “She spoke, Miriam, and Aaron, against Moses…” These reasons suggest that Miriam originated the challenge and enlisted Aaron to support her, so she is held more responsible and given a greater punishment.  Divine justice in action. May this be a warning to each of us!

Why does Moses not retaliate? What can we learn from his example?

Moses knows that whatever crosses his path, it has first been filtered through the loving hands of his heavenly Father. His attitude reflects a humble submission to God’s will and not his own will. This inner attitude enabled him to endure injury with patience and without resentment, thus responding with gentleness or power under control.

When we respond in difficult situations with gentleness, God will be glorified (Matthew 5:16), and the experience God has allowed will result in our spiritual growth. (Romans 8: 28-29) Meekness is willingly accepting whatever comes as permitted by the sovereign, all-loving God, thus allowing a gentle response.  Therefore, a valued quality is held in high esteem in the sight of our God.

Jesus demonstrated the character traits of humility and gentleness as he interacted with a variety of different people.

He gathered children about Him—they sat on His knee, and He took the time to talk with them. When the disciples sought to dismiss the children as a nuisance, Jesus rebuked His disciples.  We can see the quality of gentleness in his treatment of the woman caught in adultery that the Pharisees wanted to stone. Remember His conversation with the woman at the well in Samaria? He engaged her in conversation that drew her in rather than alienating her. He did not condemn her; instead, He allowed her to admit her sin. The discussion was gentle. Consider His behavior and words in the upper room, just hours before His crucifixion. Knowing in advance that Peter would deny Him, and Judas would betray Him, He did not rise in angry protest. He washed their feet. His gentleness, His love restrained Him.

Later, Peter was inspired to write about how Jesus is the supreme example of meekness and gentleness. 1 Peter 2:21-24  “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously…”

Gentleness is not a mere reflective or meditative virtue; it maintains peace and patience in the midst of bombarding frustrations, irritations, and annoyances.

It is interesting how often Peter mentions the mouth in this passage. Remember, this was Jesus’ experience throughout His entire life on this earth. Listen to the meaning of these words.

“No deceit was found in His mouth”: Deceit refers to a fishhook,

a trap, or trick; it is a deliberate attempt to mislead; it is a desire to gain an advantage by deceiving others. It involves all forms of deception.

“When He was reviled, did not revile in return”: Revile means to subject one to verbal abuse, and to criticism, accusations, slander, speak in a highly insulting manner. This harsh language not only rebukes a man but also sharply bites him. It is intended to wound a man as with a vile, hateful sting.”

Jesus did not strike back when He was insulted. He uttered no threats. Think what this means: He never thought about revenge, nor did He threaten with retaliation.

How can we control our tongue as Christ did?

What is the example we are to follow?

2 Peter 2:23: “He committed (or entrusted) Himself to God, His Father who judges righteously.” As each new attack came, He surrendered Himself to His Father’s righteous judgment. Each time He was attacked verbally with abusive insults, He placed Himself into the loving hands of His Father.

The temptation of our flesh will always be to lash out at those who oppose us. Still, as our example, Jesus was victorious in this area. We must follow His example, only achieved supernaturally. Without control of our tongue, we will never have the Spirit’s power of gentleness – the 8^th component of the Fruit of the Spirit.

• Proverbs 15:1 “A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.”
• Proverbs 16:24 “Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.”

Hopefully, you are beginning to understand why a quiet and gentle spirit is so precious, very precious in God’s sight. The key to understanding the qualities of humility and gentleness is to realize that they are qualities of strength, not traits of weakness. They are godly, encouraging virtues; they are not a display of passive timidity. They involve restraint; therefore, they require strength under control. They are the appropriate, suitable temperament for a servant of God.

Have you ever wondered why it seems that you are not growing spiritually? Do you seem to be going backward, not making any spiritual headway? Join me next time when we unfold the relationship between gentleness and spiritual growth.

Such a fantastic discovery this week; I just had to pause from my gentleness post to write about finding my Christmas ornament that I had been told 55 years ago had been broken!

Above is a photo of my ornament that I hung on our family tree Saturday evening. As a child, every year, I looked forward to hanging this special ornament on the family tree. I am not sure what drew me to it each year, but I do remember that to me, it was the most beautiful ornament on the tree. My four brothers had large round ornaments, all a different color, that was theirs to hang on the tree each year. But this was mine; it was distinct from theirs, and every year I looked forward to hanging it on the tree.

But in 1965, I went to get my ornament, and it was not there. I asked my mom where it was, and she said it had gotten broken. I assumed that when the decorations were put away the previous year, it must have been dropped.

I often thought about my beautiful ornament and kept my eyes open with the possibility of finding another one – another one, just like it! Many decorations have come and gone during our 55 years of marriage, but there has never been one that gave me such joy as ‘my special ornament’ – the only one of its kind!

Fast forward to 2020, December 6.

My brother’s wife passed away on November 24, and I asked God to show me how I could help my brother, Frank, and my nephew, Peter, through this challenging time they would be facing. In a telephone conversation with Frank a couple of days later, he said that no thrift store in their area would take used clothing, so he was going to begin throwing all of Ingrid’s clothing in the garbage. Instantly, the Spirit prompted me to say to him, “Frank, our thrift store will take the clothing. We will come down and pack everything and take it to our local thrift store.” His words were, “Sis, you will never know the weight that you have taken off my shoulders.”

As we were packing the cars, Frank asked me if I would like to take back all the Christmas decorations. He had no desire to put up any decorations. I looked at the two cars that were already packed and said sure. We can take back anything you do not want. It meant repacking the vehicles, but that was okay. We all pitched in and got the job done!

As Frank began handing me the boxes of ornaments,

I stood frozen in time!

I was holding a box with an ornament that looked precisely like my unique Christmas ornament. I thought – how could this be? I had never found another one, exactly like my particular ornament. I said to my son, David, “this ornament is exactly like the ornament that I hung on our family tree each year.” My heart was jumping with joy. It may not be my ornament, but it was exactly like the one I had lost, and that was good enough for me!

After arriving home and unpacking the car, I hung my ornament on our tree. But wait. I looked more closely at it; this was not like my ornament; this was my ornament! I could tell by the discoloration that had occurred over the years. But how could that be? Mom had said that it had gotten broken, but here it was – in my brother’s Christmas decorations! For whatever reason, mom had given the ornament to Frank and many other post-war ornaments still in fantastic condition.

The tears began to flow as I thought about this special gift of Love from my heavenly Father. At just the right time, and in His miraculous way, He returned my precious ornament, the one He protected for me for 55 years!

In a book that I have been reading, I read how Love is the most valuable weapon a believer has. God’s love will tear down the walls of despair, doubt, unbelief, bitterness. And that is what I have experienced in my life.  God’s love includes unconditional acceptance, unconditional forgiveness. God’s love will enable us to forgive and forget what others have done to us unconditionally. We cannot do this naturally. Our negative thoughts and emotions will not go away on their own. Only by God’s love are the wounds we have received from others eliminated from our lives. As we choose unconditionally to forgive that other person, God pours His love into our souls; wounds and hurts are soothed, healed, and removed. Only when those arrows are removed can we genuinely forgive what others have done to us. Then, in God’s timing, He will align our feelings with our choices, and we will begin to “feel” that forgiveness.

When we choose to love and forgive unconditionally, we change, even if our situation remains the same or possibly has even become more difficult. As our relationship with our Lord becomes more intimate, we experience His supernatural love in ways we cannot even begin to imagine. Indeed God’s love never fails in the one who chooses to allow His love to flow through them.

In God’s gift to me, the return of my Christmas ornament is the result of His unconditional love for me and for my choosing to be an instrument of His love to both my mother and my family.

Gentleness is a word that we do not talk about very much.  I wonder why? As I began studying the Scripture passages where you find the words ‘gentleness’ or ‘gentle,’ I believe I discovered at least one reason why:

Gentleness and Humility are linked together!

To be gentle in our responses to others requires the internal attitude of humility. Thus, humility is both internal and external in its realization in one’s life, and gentleness is one of the best English words to express its outward display. Humility describes a condition of the mind and our inner being—an internal attitude—whereas gentleness describes kindness combined with tenderness. It refers to our actions, our behavior.

They go hand in hand; they work together.

Think about it: Most of the world’s literature and entertainment have exalted the conquering hero who refuses to submit and stands against anyone who might challenge them. Most of the world’s cultures have reserved their rewards for people who compete successfully through their strength of will and superior power.

Often, the most rewarded salesmen are those with the most aggressive methods. And what about politicians? Or presidents of large corporations? How many humble and gentle politicians or CEOS can you name? We have learned that strife, argumentation, contention as more efficient to get what we want.

And in contrast, the humble and gentle person is often ridiculed for being weak and soft, seemingly walked all over, and of no real value in our present-day world.

Society would tell us that some people have a personality that lends itself more readily to being gentle or kind. But the Word of God does not make allowances for one’s personality – it merely commands all believers to be gentle –  in our homes, in our workplace, in our church, among other people.

No matter our personality, no matter what excuses we may make, why we are not gentle, Scripture teaches that we are fully equipped to be gentle with one another.

Gentleness is the 8^th facet or component of the Fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5: 22-23. Remember, the Spirit’s ‘fruit’ is singular, but to help us understand what the fruit is to look like as we relate to others, the Lord described the ‘fruit’ with different components.

Gentleness is the fruit of power. The Holy  Spirit within every believer is ecstatic, delighted when we walk humbly before God and others. The result of obedience is power from within through the Holy Spirit to fulfill God’s command to walk in the Spirit so I will not fulfill the lusts or desires of my flesh. (Galatians 5:16)

There are at least eight different Greek words that express different shades of meaning for gentleness. The primary Greek word indicates a mild, soothing, modest, unassuming, unpretentious, tenderhearted quality. However, it is not weakness. This family of words expresses strength with discipline or power under control. It is the quality that conveys the idea of being adaptable to the needs of others. It is showing restrained patience under challenging circumstances. It is experiencing hurt or injustice with patience and without resentment or bitterness. The word suggests having one’s emotions under control, balance born in strength of character.

In secular Greek writings, the word for gentle was used to describe a wild stallion that has been domesticated. This wild horse has been trained to obey a command; it has learned to answer to the reins and be controlled by another.  It was also a word that was used by the Greek population to describe a soothing wind and healing medicine. In each case, there is power, but it is power under control. If the wind is out of control, it becomes a destructive storm; too much medicine can kill; you cannot ride an unbroken horse.

What does God say about the quality of gentleness also translated meekness? In I Peter 3:3-4,  God writes to wives: “Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.”

Why is a meek, gentle, quiet spirit so precious to God?

As I stated initially, one of the first things I learned about gentleness or meekness is that it is often linked with humility. In Ephesians 4: 1-2, Paul writes, “Live a life worthy of your calling; … being humble, forsaking arrogance, maintaining self-control and gentleness with patience, making allowances for each other’s faults because of your unselfish love.” 

And in Colossians 3, he writes, “as God’s own chosen people, … wear His clothes of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience which has the power to endure whatever injustice or unpleasantness comes. Make allowances for each other’s faults and forgive anyone who offends you or has a complaint against you; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so should you forgive. Let God’s peace rule your hearts…” (verses 12-13, 15)

You notice that both of these passages deal with relationships. Gentleness follows humility because it is only with a humble attitude that we can have a gentle approach.

 Why do I say this?

Humility is the opposite of pride. Remember that pride has two extremes: thinking too highly of ourselves and thinking too lowly of ourselves. True humility is exalting others; it is not speaking low of ourselves. Consider concentrating on extolling Christ and others. Then, genuine humility will be sure, and we are enabled to be that soothing wind, healing medicine, power under control in any situation that confronts us.

Humility, along with gentleness, empowers us to suffer injury or insult willingly rather than inflict pain. The gentle person is not avenging, self-asserting, self-defensive, or vindictive but is humble, quiet, and soothing. When the gentle person becomes angry, God’s name is being slandered, or others are being harmed – not because of what has been done against themselves. Their anger is controlled and carefully directed, power under control; it is not a careless and wild venting of emotion that spatters everyone nearby.

When we are harsh, cold, unfeeling, unkind, crude, or rough in our mannerism, no one speaks of our enchanting behavior. Or, when we are loud-mouthed, dictatorial, cantankerous, speaking bitter words —no person is ever heard saying of us, “What a delightful attitude they have!” We may have many excellent qualities, but our inability to be gentle mars our character’s beauty. Our life is, sadly, flawed.

Humility is required if we desire to mature spiritually. When we are conscious of our nothingness, what we were before grace lifted us from the miry clay, we are enabled to esteem or regard others better than ourselves, which is a good antidote for a spirit of disunity within any relationship.

Join me next time, as we peer inside the lives of God’s servants, who displayed gentleness, a beauty that never fades!

When you visualize an anchor, what do you see? Probably, a hefty object that is attached to a chain or rope. When the anchor is dropped into the water, it keeps a vessel, large or small, from drifting due to wind or current. The anchor provides a firm foundation and security for the ship and its occupants.

To understand the real worth or value of an anchor, one needs to be on a ship in a storm! I have never had this experience, but I have certainly read about them and watched various documentaries.

Several in my family enjoy fishing. They have shared stories about being on the ocean and encountering choppy waves and then navigating through the waters to reach the shore’s safety or the dock.

Growing up, the only way to cross the Columbia River was on a ferry boat. During the Christmas season, going to Astoria, OR on the other side of the river was always a special treat. Usually, we crossed during a storm.  I always considered it an exciting journey!

Contrary to belief, it is not the anchor’s weight, which keeps the ship steady. The shank of the anchor is attached to the chain. It is the weight of the chain, which keeps the ship stable. The anchor does the job of keeping the chain in place. Once the anchor is sinking, the anchor merely ensures that one end of the chain is stationary. The real efficiency of the anchor lies in the chain.

In a book I just finished reading, Through the Eyes of a Lion, the author Levi Lusko connected Hebrews 6:19, Jesus the anchor of our soul with verse 20: Jesus is our forerunner.  And right now, Jesus is in the presence of God. I learned that forerunner is the Greek word prodromos. And this is where it becomes fascinating. During the Roman Empire,  prodromos was used to describe the smaller boats sent into the harbor to the larger ships that could not enter the harbor due to stormy conditions.

These smaller boats (today we call them pilot boats) carried the anchor through the breakers inside the harbor and dropped it there, securing the more massive ship.

The vessel is then pulled in slowly and safely to the shore to be unloaded.

The word anchor is used four times in the New Testament; three have to do with an actual anchor during a storm in Acts 27 and then in  Hebrews 6:19, used metaphorically. A Dictionary of Bible Types states that anchor “represents the firm hold of faith in the Rock of Ages. This Rock is inside the veil with God. Our faith reaches through the waters of trouble, difficulty, darkness, and despair to firmly grasp the Son of God and His Word. By this faith, we are kept from being swept away in the storms of life.”

Consider this: Jesus is the anchor of my soul or my feelings, desires, the inner me (Hebrews 6:19). To stay focused during a storm, my Anchor must be Jesus Christ. Speak His promises; it is in saying them that I anchor myself to Him.

I can change the way I feel by the words that I speak.

“You will keep me in perfect peace; my mind is steadfast and focused on You, because I trust in You.” Isaiah 26:3

“Be strong and let my heart take courage, I wait for, and confidently expect the Lord.” Psalm 31:24

“My soul waits silently and quietly submits to God alone; for my expectation, my hope is from Him.” Psalm 62:5

“I will not fear bad news; my heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord, confidently relying on and believing in the Lord.” Psalm 112:7

“Cast all my cares on Him; all my anxieties, all my worries, and all my concerns, once and for all on Him, for He cares about me with the deepest affection, and watches over me very carefully.” 1 Peter 5:7

Remember, it is not the anchor that keeps the ship stable; it is the chain’s weight that keeps the vessel stable.

During the storms of life, what keeps my soul, my emotions balanced and calm?

Pastor Lusko completed this beautiful picture. Jesus is my Anchor, and at this very moment, He is in the presence of God.

What is the chain that connects me to Jesus, my Anchor?

It is the Holy Spirit.

Close your eyes for a moment and visualize whatever trial you might be experiencing this moment. Maybe it is fear, perhaps discouragement, perhaps a health problem, a complicated relationship, or how I will pay the bills this month.

Whatever it might be, could you place it in the hands of Jesus?

But how?

By attaching a rope around it, which is secured to Jesus. Now, picture that problem being transported by Jesus through the Holy Spirit into the very presence of God, which He has tied securely to the “throne of grace.”

Now back to earth. Wrap the other end of the rope around you; tie yourself to it, knowing that the rope is secure and dependable. It cannot be broken because we are “in Christ” through the Holy Spirit. Keep the rope taut – no slag –  and picture Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, navigating you through your difficulty, suffering, your trial.

Remember, the pilot boat’s purpose was to bring the vessel’s anchor to the dock, and then as they pulled the rope or chain attached to the ship, they could safely navigate the boat through the rough waters of the harbor.

As we keep a tight hold on the Holy Spirit, walk with Him, and are led by Him, He will navigate us through the storms of life.  We must look outside ourselves to steady our emotions. Just as the anchor is external to a ship, anchoring ourselves to Jesus Christ will keep us calm in the storm. The sailors could not see the anchor once dropped into the water, but they knew that the anchor would keep them safe because it was attached to the chain which was fit for the task.

A dear sister in the Lord shared with me a beautiful worship song, Eye of the Storm, written by Ryan Stevenson & Bryan Fowler. I will share the YouTube link below. What does it mean to be in the eye of a storm? What I found interesting is that there are two definitions for the eye of the storm.

1. 1. the calm region at the center of a storm or hurricane
   2. the most intense part of a tumultuous situation

When referring to the calm region at the center of a hurricane, there followed the warning of not being fooled by suddenly experiencing the calm. It merely means you are halfway through the storm; the wind and the rain will begin again, often without warning. Leaving your safe room during this seeming calm is putting yourself in danger.

Again, considering the spiritual application. We do not know when the storm, the trial, hardship, and suffering will end. But what we do know is that God has promised to take us through the ordeal. The pressures, the anxieties, the winds of adversity can be blowing all around us, but if we stay connected to Jesus through the Holy Spirit, we will arrive through the storm changed and refined! And is that not our prayer: to be changed from glory to glory, into His glorious image! (2 Corinthians 3:18)

My paraphrase of Hebrews 6: 19-20: I choose to anchor my thoughts, my emotions, my anxieties, my fears to Jesus. In Him, I have the confident assurance and hope that I will not slip, I will not drown, I will not be overtaken by my emotions, fears, anxieties, frustrations. Stay attached to Jesus, my High Priest, through the Holy Spirit. Walk in obedience to His guidance and direction. He will lead me safely through the storm. Always remember that I am securely tied to the “throne of grace” by Jesus Christ, who is in the very Presence of God.

Worship song by Ryan Stevenson “The Eye of the Storm.”

When you need to be refreshed, what do you do, or where do you turn?

When I think about what it means to be refreshed, I think about that cold glass of water that I drink when I have been splitting wood, spreading beauty bark or gravel. If I do not take the time to stop and replenish my body, I become dehydrated and quit what I am doing. To complete my job, I need to take the time to rejuvenate my body. Some synonyms for refresh are to invigorate, rejuvenate, replenish, revive, stimulate.

I also found the antonyms of refresh remarkably interesting: depressed, destroy, discourage, damage, hurt, ruin.

Concerning our spiritual growth, our intimacy with the Lord, think about both the synonyms and antonyms for refresh. What do we do, where do we turn when we are in a spiritual slump or when our spiritual fire is burning low?

When we are weary from not seeing prayers answered.

When we want to run away and hide, when we want the pain to stop, when we are discouraged, or taking care of others is too much work.

Some time back, I was researching the word “trust.”  My google search revealed many verses about “trusting God.” As I read through the verses, the Holy Spirit stopped me at Jeremiah 17: 7-8. I read and re-read those verses. Listen to them:

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and whose trust is the LORD. For he will be like a tree planted by the water, that extends its roots by a stream and will not fear when the heat comes; but its leaves will be green, and it will not be anxious in a year of drought or cease to yield fruit.”

As I began to dig deeper and establish this passage’s context, I read the verses just preceding these beautiful promises: Jeremiah 17: 5-6.

“Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the Lord. For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see when good comes, but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land which is not inhabited.”

What a contrast between these verses – cursed or blessed; trust in one’s self, versus trusting in God; And the picture the Word paints of these two people is striking.

The cursed self-made person is like a thirsty, burned, shriveled shrub or a tumbleweed in the desert.

I can identify with the picture of being in the wilderness, feeling like a scorched, burned bush. Like a tumbleweed being blown here and there with no anchor. Many of you would probably agree –you know how it feels.

Notice the beautiful description of the one who trusts in the Lord and is blessed in Jeremiah 17.  How are those blessings described?

Picture an enormous, lush tree planted by the water.

Note it is planted; it just did not sprout by itself. The place chosen for this tree was intentional — by the water.  It is covered in green leaves; even the heat does not bother it; its leaves flourish and are always green.  Also, there is no anxiousness when the rains do not come. It still stands strong and firm during the drought or times of hardships, and its leaves prosper.

Nor does it cease to produce fruit. We know that fruit trees do not produce fruit 365 days a year; they yield fruit only seasonally. But the Word says that this tree never ceases producing fruit…spiritual fruit. The result of His presence within us is the continual production of love, joy, inner peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, or the fruit of the Spirit. (Galatians 5: 22-23)

What a promise from God!  These words reminded me of Psalm 1:2-3, which tell us that those who  habitually meditate on the principles and teachings of the Lord are “like a tree firmly planted and fed by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season; its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers and comes to maturity.”

So how is this possible? How do our spiritual leaves stay green during the trials, the hardships, the difficult times we will experience? Why can there be a continuous flow of spiritual fruit?

Looking back at our passage in Jeremiah 17, we see that it is only possible as our roots extend, or spread out, as they become larger, broader, reach deeper into its source — the stream.

Spiritually, the living water of Jesus Christ. Jesus said in John 7:37: “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.”

The word “thirsts” has a fascinating meaning. Symbolically, those who painfully feel their want of, and eagerly long for, those things by which the soul is refreshed, supported, and strengthened.

What is my treasure?

Now it is time to ask,  how thirsty am I? What I do about my thirst will tell my Lord and Savior what I treasure.  Do I eagerly long for those things by which my soul is refreshed, supported, strengthened? Do I even know what those things are that refreshes, upholds, and strengthens my soul, my inner being? That part of me, that part of you that makes us unique.

Most of us would probably give a similar response to the question of what is necessary to refresh and strengthen our souls, and that would be time spent alone with the Lord.

As you read through the Bible, we repeatedly see that the one God used in mighty ways spent time in training, time alone with God, often in the most desolate, deserted places, often called the wilderness.  Our training ground may physically look different than it did for Paul, for David, for Elisha, for Moses, but spiritually it is for the same purpose. We need to learn the ways of God, and that takes time — it takes a lifetime.

Think about the lush, green, fruit-producing tree with roots that grow towards the water to receive its nourishment.  This tree is willing to do whatever is necessary to quench its thirst, to be nourished so it will continue to grow stronger and stronger as the seasons of life pass.

The living water that our Savior promises will quench our thirst. As we experience the living water, we learn how to walk in the Spirit, love our enemies, and persevere in difficult situations; in the living waters, we learn what love, unconditional love, looks like, how it acts.

The crucial question to answer is this: how important is it to me, to you, to experience the living water continually? What am I willing to do to experience intimacy with the Lord?

Jesus answered this question in Matthew 6:21: “where my heart is, there is my treasure.”  So, the key is to know what I treasure. What do I consider most valuable? Where do I devote my time and energy? Whatever my answer is to these questions will determine “my treasure,” the inward driving force of my life.

The treasure, both experiencing and sharing the living water, must become the motivator for my love for God and others. Only then will  I experience His peace, His joy, blessings. Intimacy with my Lord and Savior must be my “first love.” Paul tells us what his treasure is in Philippians 3:8, “I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus, my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ.”

The roots of the tree that God has planted by the waters are very much in love or treasure this river because it contains the waters of life and love, which irrigate its roots, and travels into the branches making its leaves green and fertile.

The roots draw in all the nutrients it can from the living water because that means my soul, my inner being, is filled with His peace, His joy, His life…no matter what might be happening around me. The only experience that satisfies my soul, that quenches my thirst, is for my roots to draw life and love from the living water.

Continually fortify yourself with God’s Word; learn to let the Holy Spirit’s power flow unhindered through you; listen to the Spirit, His instructions, His warnings, and run your race with endurance to the end. And at the end of our journey,  we will hear from our Lord, “Well done, My good and faithful servant.” (Matthew 25:23)