Corona Devo 1700

It's Fall...have you seen the leaves?  They are gorgeous.  Fiery bursts of color adorning the branches of trees and exploding in reds, oranges and yellows.  I can't believe God created such hues and highlights.  The beauty of some trees at this time of year literally takes my breath away.

But did you know that when their leaves turn into these bright and bold colors they are dying?  The fall season brings an end to the chlorophyll-making process of leaves, and that's their food.  No food, no life: and so these leaves begin to die, and that's when their colors move from green into fireworks of burnt orange, fiery red, and bright yellow.


In death, there is beauty. 

...What's that? ... Yes, I do hear You, Lord, speaking to my spirit through the process and colors of the leaves. 

I appreciate the stand-out beauty of the fall leaves, and I realize that God is using them today to remind me that there are somethings within my heart and life that need to die so that He can bring His beauty into their place.

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.  ~Galatians 2:20

Impatience, entitlement, self-pity, self-loathing, apathy...it's all sin, and it needs to die in us so that Christ can further live in us.

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (25) Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.  ~Galatians 5:24-25

Crucify the flesh today.  Whatever that is in our day (checking our phones before checking the Scriptures/spending instead of saving/me-focus instead of God-focus).  Crucify my flesh today, Lord. 

Crucify the flesh today.  Shut my mouth, Lord.

Crucify the flesh today.  Give my empathy instead of pride, Father.

Crucify the flesh today.  Not my will, but thine.

~~~

What part of us needs to die so that beauty can explode in our hearts and lives and testimonies?  Whatever it is, put it to death today, so that we can live tomorrow.  

For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.  ~Romans 8:13 

~~~

Chlorophyll is a plant's food.  What are we feeding on today?  Is it Jesus?  His body and blood?  The realization of what He gave so that we could be saved?  Is it this knowledge that is fueling our soul and direction today?  Or are we feeding on something far-less substantial and fortifying?

Jesus answered, “The scripture says 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God'.”  ~Matthew 4:4

~~~

The red, orange, and yellow glory of the fall leaves is amazing and it's only possible because each of those leaves is dying.  

If we are honest, we each have our own dying to do today.

  • And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.  ~Luke 9:23
  • For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.  ~Philippians 1:21


In death, there is beauty. 

Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com 

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