SPRING REFRESHING

Spring is in the air . . . do you smell it? Feel it? See it? Well, just in case you haven’t noticed, the spring bulbs are poking up little green shoots, trees boast promising buds, and a few courageous bulbs and trees have already popped out blooms. I’m reminded of Psalm 1:3, which promises that the person who meditates on (read and thinks about) God’s Word will be “like a tree planted by the rivers of water that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.”

With the coming of blossom scents, fresh breezes and green grass sprouting up, take inventory of your life—just like you do for your yard. Are there places that need a little fertilizer, a bit of pruning, repotting into a larger container, or last year’s old leaves raked away.

With that in mind, when you are busy in the garden, cleaning out last year’s brittle roots and dried up beauty bark and planting new seeds and flowers, take heart. If you are feeling like a dried up stick, here is a sure antidote: Start reading the Bible and thinking about what you read. I challenge you to start with Psalm 1. Read through it several times. Make a list of what the blessed man does/does not do and what the end of those who disregard wise counsel will be. Then consider how your life measures up. The first few verses talk about who you listen to regarding how to live your life. If the true measure of a person is the fruit of their life (Matthew 7:20), then ask yourself if those you listen to exhibit the kind of character you want in your life; i.e. are those in my closest circle critical or disrespectful toward their children, spouses, teachers, public servants, pastors, authorities? Or are they patient, generous, peaceful, encouraging, and filled with hope?

Keep a journal or notebook as you read through each psalm and apply its wisdom to your life. I guarantee you, on God’s Word, if you read and think about the verses you read each day and then apply their wisdom to the choices and decisions you make, you will feel softened and refreshed—just like the soil after a sweet spring rain. And you will poke up little green shoots, boast some promising buds, and even burst with blooms. See, the hills are turning green. Come on…it’s time for spring in your life.