Day 31, Growing in Grace – Stacey Caplinger
“Sow for yourselves righteousness; Reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you” (Hosea 10:12.)
As one who has great enthusiasm for gardening, I was excited about the creation of a Children’s Garden at St. Mark years ago. My kids and I spent many years helping prepare the soil, plant the seeds, pull weeds, and harvest produce from the garden each summer. One of my favorite memories is watching Andrew dig up a potato, and in his excitement, jumping up and loudly praising God for his amazing harvest! Tending a garden is a task that requires a good deal of effort, patience, and trust. Effort in preparing and tending the garden coaxes what we have planted to grow and produce. Patience is required in a process where, not we, but factors in nature and the environment control the timeline. Trust in that process allows us to excitedly anticipate the outcome of a good harvest. Chapter 10, verse 12 in Hosea likens preparing our hearts for God’s love and blessings to gardening. It directs us to sow for ourselves acts of righteousness to prepare our hearts, as we would garden soil, to allow God’s righteousness to take root and produce fruit in our lives. Our effort, patience, and trust in God will yield in us continued spiritual growth and steadfast love.
How can you prepare your heart for God’s blessings? In what ways can you be intentional in practicing patience and trust be to allow spiritual growth and receive God’s steadfast love in your life?
“Our God and creator of all things, thank you for your many blessings. Help me to exhibit effort, patience, and trust necessary to cultivate spiritual growth in my life. Lead me every day with your patience and love. Amen.”
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