I’ve been doing some journaling and reflecting lately. It’s kind of what you do at the end of one year and the beginning of a new one. God’s been very good to us over the last year. Things have been hard, but He’s been faithful. Now as I look forward I wonder what He has in store for us next!
To help focus my mind for the year ahead I’ve chosen a verse to meditate on.
But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God’s unfailing love for ever and ever. For what you have done I will always praise you in the presence of your faithful people. And I will hope in your name, for your name is good. Psalm 52:8-9
So, this year, I am an Olive Tree in the house of God!
I laugh as I type that.
I have fond memories of an olive tree in my childhood. One of my closest friends had an olive tree in her parents backyard. They eventually built a tree house in it, but we would climb it all the time even before that. I spent many many lazy afternoons up that tree.
We actually even made a little song about it, no idea which of us made it up:
Up in the Olive Tree!
Where I can see the world so high!
Up in the Olive Tree!
Up so high I can touch the sky!
Up in the Olive Tree!
Ok so it wasn’t the most imaginative of limericks… but we had fun.
I don’t know a huge amount about Olive Tree’s, but I might know a little more than some because of that old tree. For instance: Never ever just grab an olive off a tree and eat it. Unprocessed olives are bitter and hard and just plain nasty! They also make pretty good ammo for throwing at your brothers from the tree top. But watch it! An outright Olive War might be declared!
Olive Tree’s are strong. They grow well in many soil situations and can stand up to harsh climates.
At the ancient site of the Biblical Mount of Olives there are Olive Trees old enough for Christ to have rested under.
They are faithful, they are perseverant.
Even in a drought.
That is a pretty big deal. To be able to grow and bear fruit even in a drought. To flourish in difficult places.
But in so many ways that is what God promises us.
So often we think that God is going to remove all of the uncomfortable things we are going through, and when He doesn’t we don’t tend to understand why.
But God is faithful to us, and if we allow it He can help us flourish even in our drought.
If we just come to Him for water. Come to His word. Come to His house.
So what can I learn from my verse for the year?
I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God
In order to flourish, I need to dwell in His house. I need to spend time with Him. He is my source and my water supply, especially in a drought.
I trust in God’s unfailing love for ever and ever.
A statement, a declaration, a choice to trust in His love no matter what my circumstance. To choose His love for always, no matter what comes.
For what you have done I will always praise you in the presence of your faithful people.
For what He has done, for what He is doing, I will declare His praise always!
I will hope in your name for your name is good.
Hope is a word and concept God spoke much to me about in 2011. In fact, my daughter, born in February 2012, has the middle name of Hope. Her name means God’s Gracious Gift of Hope. I will never forget His lessons of hope He gave me that year.
God has been faithful to me all my life. From the time I was a little girl up in an olive tree until now.
God will always be faithful.
I really do believe that as we take the time to draw near to Him He will make our hearts to Flourish. As we in our cores flourish in Him it doesn’t matter what may happen in our day to day. He is always faithful, He is always there, He is the place we can put our hope in.
Let’s drink deeply of His Word this year. Let’s drink deeply of His love and His presence.
And we will flourish, no matter where we may go.
I encourage you to choose your own verse for this year! I chose mine after reading a post put out by the people who made the YouVersion Bible App to do so and to post it in social media using #verse2014. I’ve done so, won’t you join me? God’s word can do amazing things for your life!
For more information about the YouVersion Bible App go to www.bible.com
~Joy Aletheia Stevens
Photo Credit: by Cazz (CC BY 2.0)
Photo Credit: by Orin Zebest (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Photo Credit: by Pietro Di Bello (CC BY-SA 2.0)
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