faithful – Garden Faith

You, LORD, are my lamp; the LORD turns my darkness into light.
2 Samuel 22:29 (NIV)

Chapter 22 in 2 Samuel is a hymn from David, a hymn praising God and thanking Him for deliverance. David called out to the Lord, asking for help, protection, and deliverance from his enemies and Saul. The Lord heard David and helped him, protecting him, guiding him, and saving him from his enemies. The Lord was his lamp; brightly shining forth light; illuminating the darkness of wickedness, depression, loneliness, and despair.
The Lord is our lamp, illuminating our path and brightening our lives with His light of understanding, hope, and peace.⁂

Is the Lord, your lamp? Do you reach out to Him on dark days, letting Him turn your darkness into light?

Prayer; Our Heavenly Father, we thank You for your protection, help, and care. You are our lamp; teach us to reach out to You in our darkest times. Help us to trust you to shine Your light on our worries and fear. Teach us to be patient and trust in Your strength and power. Like flowers grow, flourish, and glow in the sunlight; let us flourish and glow in Your light. In Jesus’ holy and loving name. Amen

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Therefore, my beloved, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
1 Corinthians 15:58 (NRSV)

Paul is addressing the Corinthian church, expressing his love, and asking them to be steadfast, immovable, and always excelling in the work of the Lord. Paul asks them to be steadfast, meaning faithful to the Lord, and firmly committed to His ways. He is entreating them to be immovable, firm, stable, strong in their beliefs, and uncompromised by their culture. The goal for their church and all churches; is to excel in the work of the Lord, doing His will, upholding Christian virtues, and spreading the gospel and love. Labor for the Lord is not in vain; it is to His glory and is rewarded in heaven.

Would you describe your faith as steadfast, immovable, and your behavior as excelling in the work of the Lord? How can you improve?

Prayer; Our Heavenly Father, help us be steadfast and immovable in our faith. Teach us to excel in doing Your work and sharing Your Word. Open our hearts to Your way, sharing Your love. As the crabapple blossoms enhance the tree, let our actions enhance Your kingdom. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen