Corona Devo 3225

Sitting on a lake dock the other day, I was taking in the beauty of lily pads and water lilies that surrounded the waters edge.

What type of water lily are we today?

Some of the blooms were tightly tucked-up within themselves...petals not-yet-unfurled and as yet clenched-shut to the sun's rays and to the day. 

Are we this water lily flower today?

Exhausted.  Shut down.  Guarded and protective of our hearts...and jaded toward joy because of life's many jabs?

So many things in this world can cause our spirit and our faith to clam up...to shrivel back from the world, and even to question God's hope.  

And if our faith is tightly clenched today...God rests here with us.  

  • Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.  ~Psalm 23:4 
  • “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. (29) Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (30) For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”  ~Matthew 11:28-30  

~~~

Other water lily blooms were becoming...  They were literally in the process of unfurling, and some seemed to be opening even as I watched.  Willing and eager to grasp the day and the sun and whatever was next for them: they were in the process.

Are we in the process of faith-in-God…and blessed to be here?  Are we shocked by God's goodness even in the trials of life?  Are aware, and grateful, and hungry for the Lord's presence today?

Has someone/some Bible verse/or has God Himself touched us and made faith real to us?  And are we running hard after the Lord and whatever/wherever/whoever His plans are for us this day?  Are we open to Him and are we opening up to Him?

  • Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?  I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.  ~Isaiah 43:19
  • Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.”  ~Matthew 16:24 
  • After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. (67) So Jesus said to the twelve, Do you want to go away as well?” (68) Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go?  You have the words of eternal life, (69) and we have believed and come to know that you are the Holy One of God.”  ~John 6:66-69

~~~

And some water lily blooms, (although it was still early morning), were already wide-open in full beautiful bloom.  Gorgeous in their fullest state of just what God had created them to be: they radiated His beauty and Creation. 

Unprotected and vulnerable, yet unashamed and unafraid to be on full display in their full (God-given) glory for all to see. 

Are we this (opened) water lily today? 

Fulfilled. 

Bold.

Strong-because-of-God. 

Embracing life, the day, and our call-of-Christ head-on and with confident beauty, regardless of what others might say or think. 

  • I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.  ~Philippians 4:13 
  • And they do not rest day or night, saying: “Holy, holy, holy Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!”  ~Revelation 4:8  
  • Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music… (6) …shout for joy before the Lord, the King.  ~Psalm 98:5-6 
  • Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters…  ~Colossians 3:23  
  • One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.  ~Psalm 27:4

~~~

As I sat peacefully on the dock surveying the floating patch of lily pads and water lilies, I deemed them all beautiful in their own stages of life...and I related to each of their current conditions.

Whether tightly tucked/cautiously unfurling...or wide-open in full bloom: God is with us in each (and every!) stage and process of life that we progress through.

God sees each of His beautiful children and attends to us and our present situations intimately.  He loves us specifically and is present with us...always, and in whatever stage we find ourselves today, whether closed, opening-up, or in full bloom. 

What type of water lily are we today?

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: (2) a time to be born and a time to die, 
a time to plant and a time to uproot,  
(3) a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,
(4) a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,
(5) a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, 
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, 
(6) a time to search and a time to give up, 
a time to keep and a time to throw away, 
(7) a time to tear and a time to mend, 
a time to be silent and a time to speak,  
(8) a time to love and a time to hate,  
a time for war and a time for peace.  ~Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

 

Blessings,

sarah 

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com 


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