A Season of Hope ~ Preparing Our Hearts for Easter
Psalm 84:11
“For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
The Lord will give grace and glory;
No good thing will He withhold
From those who walk uprightly.”
One of my husband’s first assignments in the Navy required a drive from the East to the West coast, a journey that took us through 3000 miles of territory never before seen by us. Driving across North Dakota we discovered Sunflowers, miles and miles of bright, uniformly-sized Sunflowers standing erect, all facing the same direction towards the sun. What a remarkable sight! These hardy flowers, known for their unique symmetry, get their name from their habit of facing the sun as it moves from East to West, their behavior symbolic of adoration of their Creator. How amazing to think that God must have given us the Sunflower not only to enjoy their beauty but also to remind us of how we, too, should always face the Son. Consider these qualities that should encourage our own faith in Christ:
• Sunflowers follow the sun—how great it would be if our eyes followed the Son all day long, never losing sight of Jesus.
• Sunflowers must be firmly planted—we, too, must be firmly planted in God’s Word so that our faith takes root and we don’t falter in our faith.
• Sunflowers produce seeds and oil—we should also produce by sowing the seeds of the Gospel and producing fruit that comes from the Holy Spirit.
• Sunflowers resemble the sun—so should we resemble the Son, being a reflection of His love and grace.
In the darkness of the night, the Sunflower anxiously waits for the sunrise and the brightness of tomorrow.
We have recently lived through a period of darkness with the pandemic, anxiously waiting for a new dawn, for the hope of a brighter tomorrow. In addition to a prolonged period of isolation, many suffered profound losses and others still find their life situations appear pretty bleak and somewhat overwhelming. Not just in this Lenten season, but every day, may we remember to turn to the Son. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, who brought light out of darkness, hope out of fear, fruit out of barrenness, and joy out of tears. May this song be our prayer of adoration and praise to Him today.
Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free:
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face;
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace.
~ lyrics by David Hamilton, Helen Hewarth Lemmel
Copyright © 2023 Marsha Richards / All Rights Reserved
