Oh, Father, the gentle, flowing thoughts of this early morning hour bring me great comfort. The world is crazy and is seemingly spinning out of control but You are the deep settled peace running beneath it all. May my thoughts be on You. May Your peace flow through me to touch the lives of others. Amen.
James 1:21 (<<click here)
Looking more closely at the second half of this verse, James directs us to “humbly accept the word God has planted in our hearts.” The KJV uses the word “engrafted.” Lord, we are spiritual beings created to have an intimately close relationship with You. But because of sin, we are rebellious and wild. Solely because of Your sacrificial death – a death we deserved because of our sin – can Your word be “engrafted” “in our hearts, for it has the power to save our souls.” We are incapable of saving ourselves – salvation is found only in You.
Your word is “engrafted” in us but Romans 11:17 says that we are also “grafted in” to the tree of Your making so that we can now tap into the blessings and promises of God, “sharing in the rich nourishment from” its root.
Lord, I readily acknowledge that I am utterly dependent upon You for my spiritual vitality – the sustenance I so desperately need comes only from You. I am eternally indebted to You for engrafting Your word in me and for engrafting me in You. There is no place I’d rather be! We both realize that I must remain in You throughout my life here on earth – outside of You, I am lost. How I long for the day when I won’t just have Your presence in me but I will live in Your presence for all eternity!
Aug 16th, Tues, 5:33 am
