Day 16

Ps 1:3 And he will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,Which yields its fruit in its season,And its leaf does not wither;And in whatever he does, he prospers. NAS

As I look out my window in late January I can see a world dominated by the browns, tans and grays of mid-winter. Very few signs of life are visible when you peer into the forest this time of year. The occasional squirrel hops by or the gentle swoop of a few birds but not much else. However, under winters' black-and-white version of life a kaleidoscope of brilliant colors are gathering themselves in anticipation of spring. At just the right moment the grays and browns will fall to the ground as a virtual explosion of life paints the trees, grass and flowers in Walt Disney-esque technicolor. You just have to love springtime.

So it is with the Christian who keeps his or her faith strong in God. At times we walk through seasons of sorrow, grief or trouble that threaten to push us to the edge of our ability to cope but underneath are the everlasting arms of God and His unlimited, life changing power. The Psalmist mentions a tree firmly planted by a stream, with constant access to the life giving flow. That is a perfect picture of a believer who is drawing daily strength from the deep, refreshing river of God's Spirit. Jesus said that the Christ-follower would have rivers of living water flowing from deep within.

If you are experiencing a bit of winter in life right now I encourage you to reconnect to the power source of God's Spirit. He is always available through prayer, worship and Bible study. The sustaining, renewing power of God is what keeps you stable when the cold blast of January impacts your life. God's promise is that when we draw near to God He will draw near to us as well. And when you do, springtime is just around the corner.

Have a blessed day,

Pastor Andy