Good morning…
“Unless the Eternal builds the house, those who labor to raise it will have worked for nothing,” over the phone my friend quoted Psalm 127:1-2 (VOICE). Her gentle voice continued: “Unless the Eternal stands watch over the city, those who guard it have wasted their time.”
“God provides for His own,” she encouraged. “It is pointless to get up early, work hard, and go to bed late anxiously laboring for food to eat; for God provides for those He loves, even while they are sleeping” (Psalm 127:1-2, VOICE).
After sleeping, I wake with this Scripture verse saturating my mind. I revisit these powerful promises on a morning when we grieve the loss of loved ones who have died so young, when we pray for the healing of those facing surgery, sickness, suicide, those struggling to make fraying ends meet, and those suffering beneath the weight of diminishment, disconnection, danger.
God didn’t set us up for an angry rejection but for salvation by our Master, Jesus Christ. He died for us, a death that triggered life. Whether we’re awake with the living or asleep with the dead, we’re alive with him! So speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you’ll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind. I know you’re already doing this; just keep on doing it (1 Thessalonians 5:9-11, MSG).
The Eternal builds each house. The Eternal stands watch over our city. The Eternal provides for us lovingly, even while we are sleeping. God builds. God stands watch. God lovingly provides. We labor alongside, we guard with God, we trust the Eternal to provide all we need this day before we drift to sleep in our LORD’s loving care.
Jesus went on to say, “The Kingdom of God is like this. A man scatters seed in his field. He sleeps at night, is up and about during the day, and all the while the seeds are sprouting and growing. Yet he does not know how it happens. The soil itself makes the plants grow and bear fruit; first the tender stalk appears, then the head, and finally the head full of grain. When the grain is ripe, the man starts cutting it with his sickle, because harvest time has come” (Mark 4:26-29, GNT).
What grounding strength do these verses give you as you wake from sleep on this multi-faceted day, a day that will never come again?
…Sue…
