Not one word of all the good promises that the Lord had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass.
Joshua 21:45, ESV
This morning, I completed a few daily tasks while the coffee brewed. Determination marked my countenance. Unlike yesterday’s event of brewing without drinking a single cup of the hot, piquant liquid, today I planned for success. I noted the sky outdoors looked a little on the gloomy side. Inquiringly, I popped open my weather app to see what the day would hold. The forecast called for storms for the next couple of afternoons.
Sitting down at my desk, I pulled out my Bible and it fell open to the book of Luke. Let me say, I’m not usually a “read where it falls” kind of girl. Typically, I plan with a specific book in mind or my daily Proverb first. Today, however, felt different. The headline that grabbed my attention was “The Lesson of the Fig Tree.”
The Lesson
Initially, my thought was that this passage would be the story where Jesus cursed the fig tree. I recently heard a sermon about that, and the familiarity left me feeling rather pious. This should have been my first clue that I needed a lesson. Pride and thinking you know what God wants to tell you before He speaks isn’t the best approach to morning devotions.
Instead of the “cursing of the fig tree” story, this passage began with calling attention to the change in seasons. Also, it happened to describe the exact seasonal shift we currently face in south-eastern Georgia. Summer approaches quickly (And all the teachers and students shout, “Amen!”).
As usual, I read the passage and highlighted the verses referring to the cyclical change and the fulfillment of prophetic words. I felt a nudging in my spirit about the many words prophetically given over me. Some from people and, more importantly, some contained in the very Book I read. But it was the last verse in the passage that I felt leap within me. “Earth and sky will wear out and fade away before one word I speak loses its power or fails to accomplish its purpose” (Luke 21:33, TPT).
Earth and sky will wear out and fade away before one word I speak loses its power or fails to accomplish its purpose.
Luke 21:33
Promises
I meditated what my eyes read and listened for the Lord to make all the connections to my heart. He always does when I’m patient enough to wait. Today was no exception. He reminded me that I have natural expectations, but the spiritual realm is just as real as what I see with my eyes. When I walked the dog, it never occurred to me to wonder if the sky hung where it should. And with equal confidence, I must recognize that God’s Word, His promises to me, will be accomplished in my life.
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Scripture tells us in Psalms 93:1b that “the world is established, it shall never be moved.” Psalm 104:5 reads, “He set the earth on its foundations, so that it should never be moved.” 1 Chronicles 16:30 reads, “Tremble before Him, all the earth; yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved.” Ecclesiastes 1:4-5 tells us, “A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever. The sun rises, and the sun goes down, and hastens to the place where it rises.” Genesis 8:22 (TLB) reads, “As long as the earth remains, there will be springtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, day and night.” The world isn’t going anywhere, and the sun never fails to rise and set. The lesson – even more steadfast than the cycles in this world are the promises that God has spoken.
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Please note: All Scripture written as ESV unless otherwise notated.
Do you like peace and quiet? Get your official copy of the album Peace in the Storm from my store or listen for free to select songs on YouTube (SK Murray). Great listening for reading the Word and meditating your promises!