Good day
We've been having some warm weather in Cape Town recently and I've found myself needing to water the lawn more consistently because of the heat. There were 2 points that stood out for me while doing so:
Point 1: Just because the grass is green and appears to be in a healthy condition, it doesn't mean we stop watering it.
Point 2: We shouldn't wait for the grass/lawn to die before we start watering it.
I then thought about how this can relate to our relationship with God, where we're the grass/lawn and watering speaks of how often we spend time with God.
Point 1: Just because life is going well (Where we're growing in our relationship with God and serving in His kingdom, our needs are taken care of, the family is doing well, the quality of the relationship with our spouse, family, friends is healthy and thriving, from a career perspective things are going well, etc.) - It doesn't mean we neglect spending time with God, as though the decision to spend time with God is determined by how well life is going. The quality of one's life is irrelevant when it comes to seeking God's kingdom first. So whether things are going great or not, our aim should always be to seek God and make spending time with Him a priority.
On a different note, because things may be going well, let's remember that there's a reason the lawn is in the condition it is today. It didn't happen overnight. Effort was put into getting it to where it is today - and it's our responsibility to maintain it.
Point 2: We shouldn't wait until the storms of life come our way before we make an effort when it comes to our relationship with God. It's similar to my previous message about asking for help when I said that sometimes people come to God as a last resort (after we've run into trouble, after we've made the wrong choices - then trying to figure out everything on our own, after we've experienced the worry, anxiety and stress of trying to solve things in our own ability - then we come running to God for help) ... this is similar to waiting for the lawn to die before deciding to water it.
This is not only applicable to what may be happening to us but also in us. Some people go through a dry spell, where everything can seem lethargic (whether that's spending time praying, reading, going to church, connecting with other Christians, etc.). This is often followed by feelings of despair, hopelessness and discouragement. It creates a downward trajectory. This also speaks of grass that's busy dying ... But again, the encouragement here is that we don't have to wait until we experience these symptoms before making the change. We can prevent this by consistently watering the lawn.
I trust that you were encouraged by this message and that it served as a reminder for all of us to continuously seek God. The truth of the matter is that we only have 1 life and 1 opportunity, and therefore we need to take seeking God seriously and not take Him for granted, but rather appreciate His presence in our lives. Amen
Psalms 1:1-3
Blessed [fortunate, prosperous, and favored by God] is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked [following their advice and example], Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit [down to rest] in the seat of scoffers (ridiculers). But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law [His precepts and teachings] he [habitually] meditates day and night. And he will be like a tree firmly planted [and fed] by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season; Its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers [and comes to maturity].
Jeremiah 17:7-8
“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit.
John 15:4-11
Remain in Me, and I [will remain] in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself without remaining in the vine, neither can you [bear fruit, producing evidence of your faith] unless you remain in Me. I am the Vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him bears much fruit, for [otherwise] apart from Me [that is, cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown out like a [broken off] branch, and withers and dies; and they gather such branches and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you remain in Me and My words remain in you [that is, if we are vitally united and My message lives in your heart], ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified and honored by this, when you bear much fruit, and prove yourselves to be My [true] disciples. I have loved you just as the Father has loved Me; remain in My love [and do not doubt My love for you]. If you keep My commandments and obey My teaching, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love. I have told you these things so that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy may be made full and complete and overflowing.
Amen