Sowing Metaphorical Seeds
July 1, 2020
This morning, my Bible study workbook asked, “What is your identity before God?” Without hesitation I wrote, “Heartful Sower of His Word.” I truly love sharing scripture verses with others.
A still, small voice posed the next question, “What is God’s Word to you?” Quiet time with the Lord yielded the following images in my mind’s eye that God’s Word is a:
1. Lullaby
A lullaby is a serenade. Memories of childhood bedside songs play in my head as do those precious moments when I sang to my children and grandchildren. Lullabies minister to the tired, the frightened, or those in need of comfort, reassurance and love.
Thank you, Lord, for this is what your Word does.
2. A Balm Unto My Soul
When a friend said something spiteful to or about me, or worse yet, when a loved one told me (s)he didn’t love me anymore, or a child wrote me out of her/his life, I was deeply wounded, cut through to the heart. So, then as now when I am hurting, I open myself to God. He takes me into His Word—a salve consoling me with the assurance that “He will heal my broken heart and bind up my wounds.”—Psalm 147:3
Thank you, Father, for comforting me with this promise.
3. A Lifter of My Head
When I am in the mollygrubs, I tend to fix my gaze on the ground. What about looking down helps me feel “up?” God knows what I need and wants me to come to Him. In my mind’s eye I see His hand under my chin. Ever so gently, He raises it up.
“But you are a shield around me, O Lord; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head.”—Psalm 3:3
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for turning my eyes—away from troubles—to You.
4. A Lamp Unto My Path
Walking in the dark is dangerous. I have walked in those dark places—Despair. Untruthfulness. Unforgiveness. The list is lengthy. And yet God’s Word can obliterate all darkness.
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”—Psalm 119:105 (NASB)
Precious Heavenly Father, thank you for illuminating my way with your statutes. They help me see where I misstep and beam my way back onto the path of peace.
5. A Tether From Heaven to Earth
It is crummy, to say the least, to feel at “loose ends”—as if there is nothing solid to hang onto. At these times I feel like a helium-filled balloon whose string breaks loose and I am swept away.
Because I know Christ, I have a forever-binding connection to Him. “. . . neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”—Romans 8:38
Wow! That means loss of a job, betrayal by a spouse, cancer, or whatever . . . nothing can cut the cord tying me to my Creator.
If I am drifting, sinking, or floating aimlessly, I close my eyes and picture the tether from heaven—God’s hand grasping mine. I whisper and embrace God’s words: “. . . I will never leave you or forsake you.”—Hebrews 13:5 (HCSB)
Thank you, Father God for never letting go of me.
6. A Foundation on Which I Stand
It is equally as crummy to have my feet go out from under me—from earth crumbling, or from rotten floorboards giving way. Even the mention and memory of this occurrence dials up that helpless feeling. How shaky would it be to walk in a faith without a firm foundation? Praise the Lord, I have just the opposite.
“Therefore the Lord God said: ‘Look, I have laid a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; the one who believes will be unshakable.”—Isaiah 28:16 (HCSB)
All else around me might feel unstable, but because I trust is in my Lord and Savior, I can stand firm with the knowledge that He is steadfast, immovable!
Holy Father, this time as I look down it is not because I am “down” but because I see my feet standing firmly on the foundation you have laid for me in Christ Jesus. Thank you for this confirming image.
7. My Protector, Armor in the Fray
“Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the tactics of the Devil. For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. “—Ephesians 6:11-12 (HCSB)
A while back, every time I walked past this one particular person, she would snipe at or snub me. Her barbs were like burning arrows shot straight to my heart. Short of praying, there was nothing I could say or do to resolve the problem.
God showed me how, when I buckled on the belt of truth, fixed in place a breastplate of righteousness, strapped on my feet the gospel of peace, took up the shield of faith with which I could extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one, and put on the helmet of salvation and gripped the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, I could endure. (Ephesians 6:14-17)
From that moment on, whenever I passed her, I spiritually heard arrows pinging off me. They simply couldn’t penetrate God’s armor.
Lord God Almighty, how great you are. How wonderful is your provision to protect me and thwart the work of the enemy. Thank you for showing me this woman was not my enemy and for helping me in this situation.
My prayer is for you to let our Lord and Savior:
- Serenade you with His love songs
- Tend to you with His special salve
- Lift your head
- Shine his Word onto your path
- Take hold of your hand
- Set your feet on His firm foundation
- Protect you with His armor
What a clear and thoughtful message, Mary
Thanks for sharing these very turbulent times.
Thank you, Shawn. I hope my first-of-the-month blogposts encourage, enlighten, and cultivate faith.
Thanks Mary, just the inspiration i needed!
Pat, I’m glad this lifted you up.
Lots of comforting words for so many situations that we all experience. Thank you for the scriptures to remind us of God’s ever present love, comfort and protection.
Judy, I am blessed by your feedback.
With the restrictions on religious gatherings, I have struggled. I need fellowship and inspiration from others to fill my cup for the week. I have struggled, we have zoom church but its not the same. I pray for the craziness to be over.
Holly, I am lifting you up for encouragement to weather this storm.
I loved your writing, especially the one about the balm for the soul. As a lifelong friend, I know you have not been spared pain and now that we are parents and grandparents we also share theirs. Psalm 143:2 is a blessing to know.
Shirley, you are indeed a wonderful lifelong friend. Even better is we will get to spend eternity together in the very presence of our Lord!