Dear Ones,

How you have a faith-filled day! I am busy baking egg dishes and two kinds of cookies and the apartment is full of sweet aroma. I am enjoying “retirement” but you can still expect a devotional now and then.Devotions from Judy’s heart
Faith is important! So much in scripture speaks to that, for we are to live by faith and also walk by faith and not by sight. (II Cor. 5:7). I thought of this verse as I looked out our second-floor bedroom window and saw two young trees. In the early spring, they looked like two dead sticks. It makes one wonder how they survived the winters and many storms and are still standing. It was hard to believe that they could flourish and branch out with many leaves. But as I look out my window, they have grown in height and the branches are full of beautiful colored leaves.

We have lived in our present apartment almost eight years now, and our first November here the two trees were bare and skinny. But what a surprise when spring came: the trees filled out and had many blossoms and leaves. Because I remember that, I have faith to believe it will happen again and again. We have only to think of our faith lives, as it may seem God is not involved in some things that are important to us. We may feel barren and look at others that appear to be flourishing. It is at such times we need faith the most, to recall how the Lord has been with us in the past and has not failed us. We can rest assured that in time, we will blossom again and have beautiful leaves. It also helps that we are close to others in the Body of Christ, just like these two trees…together they look abundant and it is hard to tell which leaves are on which trees. But that doesn’t matter, as it makes one beautiful picture.

Let our hearts be encouraged even when we feel rather barren, and let us patiently wait in faith that we will once again flourish in due time. Faith believes before we can physically see, and it is a knowing in our hearts that He can do all that He has promised. May we not grow weary or doubtful, but be believing and full of faith.

Challenge for today: Share with a friend how the Lord has answered your prayers in the past and is always faithful!
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy