Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving. Col. 4:2

Sunday, July 7, 2013

Consider the Lilies

...God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did; (Romans 4:17b NKJV)

     Between 15 and 20 years ago, I planted some flowers that I had never grown before, with high hopes of enjoying annual color.  But, alas, that did not happen - until this summer!  So what was different this year than previous years?  Last summer, we had some trees taken down and one was very close to these flowers.  I didn't want the trees taken down because of the loss of shade and foliage, but the surgery took place, despite my misgivings and complaints.  (The trees did need to come down knowing the potential breakage of weak pine limbs stressed by Georgia ice storms and windy thunderstorms.)  The result - a delicate beauty more glorious than what was there previously!  Apparently, with the tree gone, the competition for moisture was gone and now the direct sunlight rays bathe the flowers many hours a day.  These aren't lilies (in fact, I am not sure what they are!), but I am "considering" them.  What do I need to willing let God remove from my life so that there is no competition for the beauty He wants to display?  Will I let Him?  What difference would it make in my life if I let the rays of His Son shine in my heart to a greater extent?  What else is competing for the soaking water of His word with which He desires to saturate my life?  “...Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow..."(Matthew 6:28 NKJV)