Word of the Day
David cried out to Me for a steadfast spirit, one not shaken by every passing circumstance or failure. He understood that failure made way for pruning and cleansing; therefore, he willingly submitted himself to it. Failure did not nullify or cancel his abiding relationship with Me or My dedication to his success. Instead it pressed him closer to the vine—so close he drew strength straight from My heart.
It was because of his abiding that he was able to overcome the greatest of failures, all the while being called a man after My own heart (cf. 1 Samuel 13:14). He bore much fruit in his life, including the fruit of repentance. He found obedience to be greater than sacrifice.
The one thing he wanted the most was to dwell in My temple—to gaze upon My beauty with an inquiring meditative heart (cf. Psalms 27:4). His heart cried out to My face—My presence—as he sought Me and required Me for the very sustenance to live and be. Because of this, David lives on in Me and My heart to this very day. In fact, his life lives on to instruct you in the way you should go in order to walk the path of humility and accept who you are in Me regardless.
Now imagine with Me for a moment a beautiful bouquet of flowers, arrayed in colorful splendor. With delicate precision and fine craftsmanship they are displayed in a beautiful ornate vase. Their presence emanates a lovely sense of grace and beauty, transforming the environment around them. Though they seem identical to those abiding in the garden, they are not.
Even though they release fragrance to all who walk by, they are not living. No matter how much water and additives they are fed, their fate is inevitable. As days go by manifestations of their true state become visible as they wilt, droop and give away to brittle dryness.
They are either discarded, never to be remembered or kept as pressed flowers holding only a faint memory of their former beauty. Memories are not enough to sustain you My child. Manna from yesterday will not provide for today. Challenges come each and every day requiring the fresh manna of communion between us. Abiding in Me is a moment by moment necessity.
Old manna and old flowers alike are for the discarding. My mercies . . . My manna . . . My abiding presence are new every morning. Yes, they are new with each breath you take. Breathe deep and smell the beauty of My living garden and don’t hold on to the things of yesterday. Yes, you can learn lessons from them but don’t keep or depend on them. I am new every morning and so are you.
One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple (Psalms 27:4 NIV)
Prayer
Lord, I cry out to You for a heart like David. I long to desire You as the most important necessity of my life. I long to pant after You as the deer pants for a brook of water. Captivate my heart and let me not love or look to another. Past circumstances or failure have not one bit of relevance when it comes to how You feel about me. Open my eyes to see You as I gaze upon the beauty of Your Word—as I reflect on the loveliness of Your name. You are sweeter than the honeycomb and stronger than bands of steel. Your name and Your love endure forever. And I am in You, therefore, I endure forever. I put on the cloak of humility and yet I walk as king and priest.
I come into the garden of our relationship and pick fresh flowers every day. I feed on the manna of Your Word morning by morning, evening by evening. I taste and see that You are good. As I draw from Your presence I am a fresh bouquet of flowers dispensing Your fragrance everywhere I go and in everything I do. I let go of the memories I hold on to in favor of fresh revelation and truth. I learn from the lessons of the past and they enable me to succeed with humility in the moment and the days to come. I discard all old flowers and manna to walk in the garden with You. Amen
Reflect and Journal
- What old manna, old communion, or old abiding have you been holding on to?
- What do you admire most about David’s life? What about his failures or successes give you the most hope?
- What attribute of David do you wish to most employ in your own life?
- Discard, abide, and breathe deep. Ask Him to develop a heart of David in you.
- Ask the Lord to open the memory books of your heart and show you the things of yesterday you are depending on in lieu of new manna, and walk among His living garden.