Jesus is Our Anchor

Scriptural Foundation:

Proverbs 10:31 Amplified Bible Classic (AMPC)

The mouths of the righteous (those harmonious with God) bring forth skillful and godly Wisdom, but the perverse tongue shall be cut down [like a barren and rotten tree].

James 1:26 Amplified Bible Classic (AMPC)

If anyone thinks himself to be religious (piously observant of the external duties of his faith) and does not bridle his tongue but deludes his own heart, this person’s religious service is worthless (futile, barren).

Reflection:  

My neighbor has a phenomenal yard. He tirelessly tends to his flower beds morning and evening without fail.  The result, a color symphony with each passing week from spring to fall. It is incredible!

This past year we started the transformation of our front yard by cutting down two large pine trees. (Side note: We literally took them down ourselves with the help of some friends.  I can now add playing a lumber jack on tv to my resume of past experiences…it was so much fun.) 

Almost overnight it changed the look of feel of our house. The two barren spaces those trees left behind garnished so much hope and potential. I was so excited at the prospect of change. My goal was to start a fantastic flower bed of my very own. Instead, life got in the way and these open spaces became overrun by weeds. After my second or third time cleaning up, I found that even weeds varied. Each time I would clear the spaces out, I promised myself that I would start building the garden I dreamed to replace the bareness. The last time, it hit me that I may want the same appearance as my neighbor’s yard, but I had no idea how to start or more importantly I did not have my own vision to accomplish the task.

Where there is no vision [no redemptive revelation of God], the people perish; but he who keeps the law [of God, which includes that of man]—blessed (happy, fortunate, and enviable) is he. (AMPC)

Along those lines, I can still remember the moment that I accepted the Lord in my heart.  I was at my lowest point in my life.  I did not know what was up and what was down…if I was coming or going.  The vision that I once had for my life suddenly was gone and I had no idea what my future held. 

When we come to the Lord, suddenly we have a clean slate which is a great thing, but at the same time we do not know what to do with it.  So, we pick up our Bible and head to church.  We look to our left and to our right in service and try to model after the people we see in church “doing it right”.  Instead of allowing the Holy Spirt to cast the vision – a tailor made plan – that He has for your seemly barren life we allow the influences of others to provide seedlings in our lives.  Things will grow…things that look like flowers and fruit when really what is happening is, we are filling our barren places with weeds.  How can helping others and serving in church be weed like activity you ask?  Anything done outside the Holy Spirit’s leading even if it is for an individual(s) or your local church could be the wrong entanglements.

Sheol (the place of the dead), the barren womb, the earth that is not satisfied with water, and the fire that says not, It is enough. Proverbs 30:16 (AMPC)

Too many people today are playing church.  Instead of a bountiful garden manicured and maintained by the Holy Spirit, these individuals have a hodgepodge of greener with more thorns than fruit.  They present to the world plastic fruit harvested from a barren soul.  This type of spiritual life is not sustainable and is a detrimental witness for other individuals new to the faith.  We all may look at what other people have and not necessarily with jealousy but want to model after their façade.  By doing that we are stunting our own vision and growth in the Lord.

Now more than ever we must live in God’s truth for our lives.  God has a specific garden He wants to plant in your life. The fruit and blessings gleaned from your life will be used by the Lord in His ways to touch other people’s lives.  Our only assignment is to be content even in the barren seasons and know that God is faithful, and He will plant in His divine timing the seeds that is needed in our lives.

And [God] Who provides seed for the sower and bread for eating will also provide and multiply your [resources for] sowing and increase the fruits of your righteousness [which manifests itself in active goodness, kindness, and charity].Thus you will be enriched in all things and in every way, so that you can be generous, and [your generosity as it is] administered by us will bring forth thanksgiving to God. 2 Corinthians 9:10-11(AMPC)

Seeking Revelation:

Grab your notebook:

• Go back to the last difficult event that happened in your life.  Sit in those feelings for a bit.  Describe that season in detail.
• Fast forward to today. List all the blessings in your life.  Now truffle (search) the Word of God for the promise that blessing fulfilled in your life.
• If you cannot find a scripture that exactly matches what you are calling a blessing in your life, then double-check if that is real fruit or plastic fruit.