Standing Firm

(Today I am participating again in Rachel Olsen's devotional carnival....click here to read other bloggers' thoughts and insights on the topic of STABILITY! :) )

And he shall be like a tree firmly planted (and tended) by the streams of water, ready to bring forth its fruit in its season; its leaf shall not fade or wither, and everything he does shall prosper (and come to maturity).  Psalms 1:3 Amplified

 When I consider the word stability, many different things come to mind - financial stability, a stable home life, emotional stability, etc.  But I believe we can and should also have stability as a follower of Christ, a child of God, which should rest not in our external circumstances but in our relationship with Jesus and our obedience to hear and do what God speaks to us on a personal level.    For some, that may appear the opposite of the world views of stability.  For example, our seasons differ, one may be called to stay in one place their entire life while another may be called to pioneer many different things in many different areas throughout their life.  Or one may encounter various trials or storms in their life, including their finances or marriage, appearing to be unstable.  But I believe that as our seasons and circumstances change, we receive from God the tools and the grace we need to complete whatever task He has called us to or to handle whatever obstacle we face.  The stability in our relationship with Him will be displayed and apparent no matter where we are physically. 

Dictionary.com defines stability as:

• 
  
  the state or quality of being stable
• 
  
  firmness in position
• 
  
  continuance without change; permanence
• 
  
  steadfastness; constancy, as of character or purpose

As I ponder these definitions, I am reminded of the scripture from Psalms at the beginning of this post.  We shall be like a tree firmly planted by the streams of water.  The verse immediately before this one says "...his delight and desire are in the law of the Lord, and on His law (the precepts, the instructions, the teachings of God) he habitually meditates (ponders and studies) by day and by night."

When we meditate on the Word day and night and our delight and desire are in the law of the Lord.....our thoughts begin to line up with His, our faith increases, we begin to believe the impossible, our heart is renewed, we have joy and peace in the midst of our difficulties.....then will we be like a tree firmly planted by the streams of water!  This doesn't mean that our external circumstances immediately line up and become perfect or that all of our problems magically disappear.  But that whatever circumstance or problem we face, we handle it all the same, believing what the Word of God says and not wavering from His truth, standing firm.  That is stability.

"I have set the Lord continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved." Psalm 16:8

I pray that whatever you may be facing today, that you are able to cling to your Father, holding on to His Word for your life, and standing firm in your faith.  That you will be like a tree firmly planted by the streams of water!  That you will be ready to bring forth GOOD fruit in your season!  That your leaf shall not fade nor wither and that everything you do shall prosper and come to maturity!

XO