Prayer - Flourishing

Father, in King David's day people were just as evil as they are today;  that You know full well.  Then and now, they "practice deceit,...plot destruction...speak falsehood rather than the truth" (Psalm 52).  

Jeremiah corroborated,

"The heart is deceitful and desperately wicked..." (Jeremiah 17:9 NIV).

Some people plot their evil against others to bring them down.  You, oh Lord, see it all and will bring evil doers to "everlasting ruin".  You will clear out the evil from "the land of the living" leaving it for the righteous.

However, Father, You do not want to see anyone eternally perish but You also hate evil.  Consequently, You bring wicked ones down Father.  I know how You do it though.  Not how we human beings would wish it to be done.  You are brilliant!  You use Your unconditional, unfailing love and kindness and goodness.  You draw them to repentance with Your goodness (Romans 2:4).  This includes every last one of us human beings!

Jesus was sent by You, out of love, to remedy the repercussions of sin-that separation from You- to defeat Satan and overcome the curse upon us.  When He accomplished Your will, He went back to be with You in Heaven.  He did not leave us "comfortless" or "unguided".

Your Holy Spirit came and indwelt us followers of Jesus Christ.  As we follow Your will and ways we are transformed into "pure hearts".  Pure hearts will be blessed and enable us to see You (Matthew 5:8 NIV).

We can become like an olive tree, as David the psalmist wrote, that he did.  We can flourish in Your presence.  David would go to Your house, the Tabernacle.  He knew from whence His source of nourishment and nurture stemmed.  He must have spent loads of time there worshiping and praising You too because it takes time for olive tress (or any tree for that matter) to take firm root, to sprout, and shoot upward, to bear fruit and to do so in a thriving, burgeoning manner.

Olive trees need the right amount of sunlight, water and essential minerals in the soil.  Similarly, David knew where and how to get his proper spiritual growing essentials.  His Source--You, in Your House and in Your presence.  We, too, can have this and I thank You Father, God.

When we look to You and Your Word, Our Source, oh Father God, we will flourish as we obey and spend our time and life depending on You for enrichment in our spirits, souls and bodies.

Father, help us always make You our stronghold and be found in Your presence.  May our words be words of truth and life and spill out to nourish others with our "fruit".  May we build up and not tear down or destroy others.  May we be transformed to be more like Your son Jesus Christ in ever increasing manner.

May we be found praising You among Your faithful people; hoping in Your unfailing, unconditional love.  Your Name, Father, is great and good  We can trust in You. 

In this wonderful Name of Jesus we praise and adore You, Father.

                                                   ~ERC  January 2020~