Welcome to Teshuvah Elul 19
Elul nineteen of Teshuvah
I’ve grown to love this season
We’ve done it together, side by side
He said we will see it unto completion
Learning how to farm
New things I had to learn
He said in plowing and planting
Become ‘doers’ is the term
The strongest kind of seed
He said “is truth sown in my heart”
Then it becomes rooted
Down in my innermost part
How I love His wisdom
Bags of seeds piled pallets high
He told me think and imagine
As tall as the sky
I wonder what He means
He makes it sound so grand
And then the work begins
Back to earth, cultivate the land
Everywhere I set my foot
Clear, plow, then the sowing
Each of these has eternal value
Persistence is the going
© laurette laster
Jesus talking to the Samaritan woman at the well, John 4- The Father is looking for those who will worship Him in spirit and in truth. The season of Teshuvah is where we turn back or return to the Lord. How do we return? We return in spirit and in truth with a repentant heart, one that is craving the wisdom of God that no longer desires to have its own way.
God is looking for truth in our inward parts; David tells us in Psalms “Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.” (Psalm 51:6 NKJV) When we plant His word in our heart, the word makes wisdom grow.
“And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. Matthew 13:22
We do not want to contend with thorns or worldly ways and worries. If these are allowed to grow in our field they choke out His word (truth) and keep it from growing in our heart. Unwanted plants that are allowed to remain and grow in our field will drink up the needed moisture, taking away precious water from the new seeds we have planted. We may have a tendency of thinking, but repentance as for ‘those people’, the sinners, the law breakers, or the rebels. The bible clearly tells us, what is not of faith is sin. So can worry be a thorn bush that if allowed to remain will grow and reproduce? According to Jesus, it is.
I now know and understand my part and His part and we work side by side. When I have done everything I can (my part), and having gone the extra mile (also my part), I can put my faith in God (His part) to see it to completion. My faith is not in my works; my faith is in His faithfulness. If I obey His commands and plant the truth in my heart He will give me wisdom or make wisdom known to me then I must readjust my thinking to line up with wisdom.
If we find ourselves worrying we are watering the thorns. Watering the thorns chokes out the good seed, we are not trusting in Him if we are worrying, thus participating in the drought that will choke out the seed of faith. Reading His word while reminding ourselves of His promises builds our faith. Then as we feed and fertilize our faith we water the good seeds by trusting that God is faithful. He is working with us, face to face, and side by side.
Missing the mark is missing the mark. We may have missed the mark due to ignorance or apathy, but both need to be repented of. Truth can be trusted. When we repent and turn back we are clearing our field of the thorns (doubt) that cause drought. Once recognized, removed, and repented of, The Lord begins to send rain on our freshly planted crops.
Returning to the love of the Father guarantees His love to be poured out over us. He says He longs to be gracious to us.
”And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.” Matthew 13:23
Don’t miss this appointed time, Teshuvah my favorite time of the year.
God bless you and keep you and make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up His countenance on you and give you Shalom.
Until next time, thank you for listening with me. Laurette
Through All Seasons 