31 Days to Fruitful Living — Day 8
Young trees need support. The solution is to drive a stake into the ground that anchors your tree. This stake will hold the young tree in place while the roots establish themselves. If you fail to support your tree, the tree will freely sway in the wind, and the strong winds will weaken the connection between the roots and soil. A tree cannot survive the stormy gale without support.
As a believer, I need to place stakes in the ground — there are spiritual truths that I must strongly adhere to in order to not be uprooted by the stormy winds. I need to lean on the stakes of God’s omnipotence, God’s goodness, our Father’s unconditional love, and His unchanging, eternal omnipresence.
“So we are no longer to be children,
tossed back and forth by waves
and carried about by every wind
of teaching by the trickery of people
who craftily carry out their deceitful schemes.
But practicing the truth in love,
we will in all things grow up into Christ,
Who is the head.”
Ephesians 4:14-15, NET
Q4U: What stakes have you driven into the ground to help you stand strong when the stormy winds blow?
Thanks for joining me for Day 8!
Such a simple yet compelling spiritual truth, isn’t it? We need His word as our stake, and I think each other. Community is a tremendous stake that helps us standfast, don’t you think?
Yes, I agree. We need fellowship! Where two or three are gathered, He is in our midst. Best place to be!
Dear Lily
I have found the secret to be that growing up in our Lord Jesus. That building our house of our hearts on Him, the Rock of all Ages! A life lived in Jesus and He living His life in and through as is the best place ever to be.
Blessings XX
Mia
Yes, Mia! He is our firm foundation. 🙂
You have a wonderful 31 Day Theme, Lyli. And aren’t you glad that we can’t change ourselves and be more fruitful – that it’s Christ in us that both shapes us and changes us. He is good.
Pat, thanks for the sweet affirmation. I am learning a lot as I research to write these posts…
My stake? Psalm 139: “Where shall I go from your Spirit? Where shall I flee from your presence?…your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.” Even when I forget, he is there, waiting for me to take his hand.
Love that Psalm — it is full of amazing truths that fill me with confidence. One of my favorites is that I am “fearfully and wonderfully made.” 🙂
Yes, there’s much to meditate on. Hmmm – sounds like a month worth of blogs right there. You’ve given me an idea… 😉
“I need to lean on the stakes of God’s omnipotence, God’s goodness, our Father’s unconditional love, and His unchanging, eternal omnipresence.”
Amen, Lyli. Beautiful truths about our God that is stronger than any storm that blows.
Even the winds and waves obey Him… for this truth, I am very thankful!
Good analogy of staking the young trees. I’ve also heard there should be some “give” in the way it is tied to the stake so that it moves a little with the wind because if it is tied so tight it can’t move the tree will not be as strong. Reminds me that some of the storms of life can make us stronger as long as we are anchored to Christ.
I’m glad you are sharing with us on Spiritual Sundays.
Blessings,
Charlotte
Charlotte, thank you for stopping by my little place on the web tonight. A little give is definitely important — Jesus exemplified this type of wise moderation. Love your insight — you’ve opened up the topic for me even further. Blessings to you, my sister. 🙂
I still have so much to learn about this Father of mine. Thanks Lyli.
Me, too! Thanks for pointing me to Him, my sister. Hugs 🙂
Relationships and early morning quiet times. Those have been my stakes lately.
I had 2 friends who helped me keep standing through a dark season last year — they showed up every day for 2 weeks so my husband could go to work. We started every morning in the Word together — each in a comfy chair. These were the 2 biggest stakes for me — I will never forget.
Lyli, first of all, the look of your site is so beautiful and refreshing, as is your lovely face…
2nd, thanks for your kind comments over at Three Way Light today. And may I say how ‘interesting’ that we both wrote about ‘support’ and had photos of very strong sticks???
Great words.
God bless you, my fruitilicious friend. 🙂
Jody, you are such an encourager! I did notice that we were thinking along the same lines… 🙂
Powerful picture–intentionally surrounding life with stakes of Truth.
Deb Weaver
thewordweaver.com
Thanks, Deb. So glad you found my little spot on the web. 🙂
Lately, I’ve been mulling over God’s eternal nature. There has been so much change in our life recently, and the fact that God will forever remain the same gives me so much hope. If I’m tied to an eternal God, then my temporal fears pale in comparison to that truth! Thanks so much for linking up with me!
Praying for you and all that change today, Melissa. The Dunbars had a pretty crazy 2012, so we held on to Him. He is the anchor that gives me hope. 🙂
I feel like I have just recently starting staking my ground in living on meat and not milk in my walk of faith. I thought I was a maturing Christian, but I found out that I really wasn’t – I was barely scratching the surface of living the life God intended. Intentionally living a right standing life takes focus, knowledge, wisdom and application. Daily application. Sometimes moment by moment application. It’s been a year, but I’m blessed by every moment of it!
Elizabeth, I am so glad you stopped by my blog. It’s a blessing to connect with like-minded sisters. Blessings to you as you continue to pursue Him. 🙂