Growing Good

Large cypress trees will grow where there were thorn bushes. Myrtle trees will grow where there were weeds. All this will happen to make the Lord known, to be a permanent reminder of His goodness and power. – (Isaiah 55:13, ERV)

In place of the thorn the cypress will grow; in place of the nettle the myrtle will grow. This will attest to the Lord’s stature, an enduring reminder that won’t be removed. – (Isaiah 55:13, CEB)

Prickly thorns and nasty briers will give way to luxurious shade trees, sweet and good. And they’ll remind you of the Eternal One and how God can be trusted absolutely and forever. – (Isaiah 55:13, VOICE)

 

Just as God promised to replace the harsh and harmful places with those that are beneficial and blessed, He does the same in the lives of those who place their trust in Him. It takes little to look back and discover the spaces within our own hearts and lives where God has taken the things that brought harm and redeemed us with His blessings that overflow and offer good to those around us. God is faithful, and each place where we see new growth of good, we have a lasting reminder of His goodness and power – both in us and for us forever. May we seek the Lord and His everlasting love, as He is the One who brings new growth of good where destructive and harmful things once stood.

 

In place of the thorns, 

God will grow new good;

As we see Him move,

His heart’s understood.

This amazing grace,

That makes broken new;

Shows with great power,

That His word is true.

For as bad gives way,

To new, good and sweet;

The Lord is made known,

Our sacred retreat.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that where dead and destructive things once grew, You have brought new that is good and beneficial. Thank You that in every space where You have turned the harmful into good, we have an enduring reminder of Your goodness and power. Forgive us for our frustration and fearfulness of the prickly and nasty spaces – both inside and out. Teach us to trust You more, so that we would rely on You to be our strength in the pruning process, and our guide to navigate through the new. Show us how to love others well, so that we may be reminders of Your faithfulness forever. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we keep our eyes and hearts open to be aware of the good that You are growing in and around us. Amen.

 

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

 

As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. – James 5:11

Remaining in the Vine

Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me. – (John 15:4)

If we are in Christ – seeking Him, trusting Him, worshiping Him, and spending time making requests and listening in prayer, His word and our intentional time before Him help us become increasingly aware that He is present, and has come to stay. We can only do the good that He calls us to do, when we are invested in time spent with Him. To know His will, we must know Him. Bearing fruit is a matter of allowing others to see His goodness through the grace that we are able to extend to others, through the love that He has established within us. May we spend time each day seeking Him, so that we may remain in Christ, and go forth bearing good fruit to all whom we encounter.

Oh God, You’re the vine,

and we must remain;

deep rooted in You,

so good is made plain.

Without Your great grace,

and Your tender love;

we can do nothing,

that points to above.

Help us to bear fruit,

so others may see;

Your goodness and grace,

as truth sets all free.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are the vine and we are Your branches. Thank You that when we are rooted and established in You, we can bear fruit that brings others to You. Forgive us for resisting the pruning process that is required to make us more fruitful, or for not fully investing ourselves in You, so that we may be deeply rooted in You and the truth. Teach us to trust You more, so that we will seek You with all that we are, and will hear Your voice clearly, each time You speak to our hearts. Lead us to love others well, so that they too, may come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we remain in You, and bear the fruit that You so graciously grow within us. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present.

The joy of the Lord is your strength. – Nehemiah 8:10