Weather forecasts are constant, it seems to me. I turn on the news, it includes a weather forecast for the day and usually the week. Often, the news even leads with the weather, especially if rain, snow or a storm of some kind is expected. I turn on my car radio and again I hear the current weather prediction along with speculation about temperatures and other weather conditions expected in the days ahead. Everyone seems pretty concerned with weather in general and with weather specifically, when it includes the possibility of tornados, hurricanes, extreme heat or cold, or other severe weather events.

I guess we want to know the most recent weather prediction so that we can prepare in advance for what is to come. If I know it’s going to rain, I take my umbrella with me even though at the moment, the sun is shining brightly. I may look foolish for the moment, walking down the sunny street with my umbrella, but later I will be vindicated when it’s pouring rain and I have my umbrella with me. I then have the satisfaction of knowing I prepared well for the coming storm.

However, that is not always the case. More often, as it happens, I have left my umbrella in my car, so it is not with me when I need it most. I am caught off guard and unprepared for the current rainstorm. Such is life. Life’s storms usually take me by surprise, catching me woefully unprepared to weather them. (pun intended) And sometimes the storms I do prepare for, never come. Ever have that happen? The weather people talk incessantly about the coming snowstorm and how much snow there will be. People, including myself, flood the grocery stores, leaving shelves virtually empty as we stock up for the impending snowfall, which will prevent us from being able to leave our homes and obtain food.

So I prepare and I anxiously await the coming storm, along with everyone else. I anticipate schools being closed and look forward to how I will spend the time. But then, the promised snow does not materialize or it is much less than predicted, causing no disruption to my daily routine, nor to anyone else’s. All that time I spent worrying about the coming snow and how I would get my driveway clear and how I would get around – it was for naught. The cause of my fear and anxiety never became reality.

Still, I feel like there are potential storms brewing all around me every day. There are constant rumors of storms. The headlines and the news are full of warnings and dire predictions which would turn even the most ardent optimist into a despairing, fear filled pessimist, given enough time. The assaults on my psyche are relentless. From climate change to war to disease to high prices to shortages – there is no end to the predictions of possible coming storms. And then, of course, there are the “end times” predictions which have been around for years and are still present in abundance today.

So do I spend my time preparing for the storm? And if so, which storm? Can I prepare for all the different types of storms simultaneously? Or should I just be preparing for “the end times” storm? If I am busy preparing for storms that may or may not come, when do I actually live this life I have been given? As I ponder these questions, I am reminded of two stories. One about a field mouse named Frederick, the other a story Jesus told about “a certain rich man” whose land produced a good crop.

As the second story goes, this man had so much abundance that he had no place to store all his crops. Our story continues –

“Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I’ll say to myself, ‘You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.” (Luke 12:18-21)

This rich man thought he was prepared. Well, he was prepared to face a famine, he was prepared for earthly life but he wasn’t at all prepared for heaven. He prepared for one type of storm, but another storm (death) came for him. Jesus sums it up this way –

“What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26)

Frederick’s story is quite different. He and four other field mice were preparing for the cold winter that was coming. Frederick’s four friends worked tirelessly storing up nuts and grains and other food supplies and straw for warmth when the weather would turn cold. Frederick, however, didn’t appear to be doing much of anything. As they were busy laying up supplies for the winter, Frederick’s four friends questioned him about what he was doing while they worked so hard.

Frederick assured his friends that he, too, was working hard, laying up a store of supplies for the winter months to come. Winter came and eventually, the nuts and grains and straw and such were all used up. It was then that Frederick shared with his friends what he had stored up for just such a time as this. He had stored up the summer sun’s rays complete with their golden beauty and their warmth. He had stored up the vibrant colors of summer which he now recalled in detail for his friends, so that they also could see the colors in their minds, brightening for them an otherwise gray winter day. And Frederick had stored up words – words which he now used to tell stories and to entertain his friends, taking their minds off of winter’s cold dreariness and making the time pass more quickly and more pleasantly.

What Frederick had stored up, did not run out – no one could take it from him, but he could share it freely with his friends. Reminds me of Jesus’s admonition to His disciples in Matthew –

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21)

So maybe the question is not which storm do I prepare for, but how do I prepare for all the storms that inevitably come in and out of my life? Do I collect more stuff and build bigger barns, or do I find a way to lay up treasure that can’t be taken from me? Peter mentioned this very thing when he said –

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade – kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1 Peter 1:3-5)

That’s the kind of inheritance I want – one “that can never perish, spoil or fade – kept in heaven for me.” How do I prepare for the coming storm? What kinds of things can I be doing now? Matthew 6 gives me some good ideas, saying –

“But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. . . . But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. . . . But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:3-18)

Giving, praying, fasting – these are things to be doing in preparation for the coming storm. What else?

“He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8)

Ok, acting justly, loving mercy, walking humbly, following God – what else? Like Frederick, I want to have plenty stored up in preparation for the coming storm. And the storm is coming, make no mistake. Jesus told His disciples this –

“As long as it is day, we must do the work of Him who sent Me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” (John 9:4-5)

Winter came for the field mice, death came for “a certain rich man” and persecution is coming for believers. (it has already come for believers in many parts of the world today) The time to prepare for the coming storm is now. To that end we are advised –

“Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:25)

I find more advice about preparing for the coming storm in Ephesians, which gives me these clear instructions –

“Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. . . . put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” (Ephesians 6:11-18)

“The day of evil” referenced above – that’s definitely a category five storm that I need to be getting prepared for now! Fortunately, God Himself provides me with the armor I need to weather the coming storm. And He not only supplies what I need to face the storm, God also promises to be with me in each and every storm that comes into my life, threatening to destroy me.

“The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” (Deuteronomy 31:8)

Like Frederick, the field mouse, in preparation for the coming storm, I want to store up things that will not perish or run out, things that no one can take from me – but things that I can share with others. To that end, I will do what the psalmist did –

“I have stored up Your Word in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” (Psalm 119:11)

Having God’s living Word stored up in me, means I have the sword of His Spirit protecting me as I fight life’s daily battles. God’s Word protects me and guides me through life’s storms. So I will continue to prepare for the coming storm, taking Paul’s advice to the Philippians –

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.” (Philippians 4:8)

the storm is coming – I will prepare. I will –

“Set my mind on things above, not on earthly things.” Because “I have been raised with Christ, I will set my heart on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.” (Colossians 3:1-2)

sincerely, Grace Day

“But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen.” (Matthew 6:6)

Do you have one? Do you have a prayer closet? Years ago, after seeing the movie War Room, it struck me that I should have a prayer closet of my own. That solitary place, providing me with a solitary space in which to be alone with my Heavenly Father, God. It is that audience of one that I so desire. Who doesn’t wish to have someone’s undivided attention? To have someone’s sympathetic and understanding ear any time of day or night? Such is the power of the prayer closet. I can enter in at any time.

“Therefore, since I have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let me hold firmly to the faith I profess. . . . Let me then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that I may receive mercy and find grace to help me in my time of need.” (Hebrews 4:14-16)

This morning, I took a long walk in one of my many prayer closets. That’s right. You heard me correctly, I have multiple prayer closets! After all, a girl can never have too many closets, can she? As I walked alone in the cool stillness of the early morning, surrounded by the myriad hues of green that are abundant at this time in late summer, tree branches towering over me beneath a clear morning sky, I realized I was in perhaps my favorite prayer closet of all. With every step I found myself crying out to God, taking Him at His word to “cast all my cares on Him because He cares for me.”

But it occurred to me today as I petitioned my Heavenly Father, that prayer is so much more than petition. I don’t want to neglect prayer’s other aspects and thereby miss out on all the prayer closet experience is meant to be. Surrounded by the beauty of creation, I found myself praising God – simply rejoicing in who He is. As I recalled our past together, I became overwhelmed with gratitude for His constant compassion, mercies, forgiveness, provision, protection, – the sheer power and comfort of His constant presence – my prayers of thanksgiving fell far short of what I feel and of what I know to be true.

“Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for men.” (Psalm 107:21)

This led me to prayers of confession as again I realized “He does not treat me as my sins deserve.” I prayed David’s prayer – “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. . . . Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. . . . Hide Your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity.” (Psalm 51:7-10)

Praise, thanksgiving, confession – then intercession. So many people came to mind who I wanted to pray for as I walked freely about in my outdoor prayer closet.

“I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” (1 Timothy 2:1-2)

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” (Ephesians 6:18)

Today, I am reminded that prayer is so much more than my personal petitions before God. Part, actually much, of my time in the prayer closet, I would do well to “be still and know that He is God.” I would do well to cease my endless petitioning and to listen instead for the still, small voice which is His alone.

“My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of My hand.” (John 10:27-28)

“The Sovereign Lord . . . wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught. The Sovereign Lord has opened my ears, and I have not been rebellious; I have not drawn back.” (Isaiah 50:4-5)

As I walked in solitary silence, just my Heavenly Father and I sharing the early morning together, I felt His assurance that He would be with me as I faced whatever this day’s challenges turned out to be. It was time for me to leave my prayer closet – this sacred space I shared with my Creator.

However, I entered almost immediately into another of my many prayer closets – probably my least favorite, but one I spend a lot of time in, nonetheless. I am talking about my car. I had somewhere to be, so I entered into the prayer closet that is my car. With the radio off, God and I were able to continue our conversation. I think of my car as a prayer closet on wheels – a portable, private sanctuary if you will.

Then there’s the time I spend on my bike, which is another of my prayer closets, there’s the shower, the kitchen sink, my favorite chair, actually my whole house now that I live alone, is one big prayer closet. Anyplace can be a prayer closet, anyplace can be holy ground, anyplace can be that burning bush where we meet with God. Anyplace where we decide to enter in to that private, sacred time alone with our Creator is our prayer closet.

“Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? If I go up to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in the depths, You are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there Your hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,’ even the darkness will not be dark to You; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to You.” (Psalm 139:7-12)

God is omnipresent. As the Psalm says, there is no where I could go that He is not right there with me. Consequently, the world is my prayer closet. Alone in a crowded airport, I can pray. In my classroom, I can pray silently. (God has really good hearing) God’s creation recognizes that all the earth is a prayer closet for those whom God has created.

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.” (Psalm 19:1-4)

Thank You, Heavenly Father, for the privilege of prayer. Thank You, that all the earth’s a prayer closet, filled with Your presence. You are never more than a prayer away.

“For in Him we live and move and have our being.” (Acts 17:28)

sincerely, Grace Day

Ever feel weary? or worthless? or powerless? or unproductive? – listless? lifeless? If you are feeling any or all of these things, chances are you may be a branch without a vine. Oh, maybe you were attached to a vine at some point in your past, but now you find yourself disconnected, distant and alone. You no longer have the energy to be productive. You find you have lost your place and your purpose in life. You, my friend, are a branch without a vine. (not unlike a rebel without a cause)

A branch on its own doesn’t last very long, does it? It soon withers and dies without producing whatever fruit it might have produced had it stayed connected to the vine. But a branch connected to a vine, lives, and not only lives but thrives, growing strong and producing much fruit. This must be why Jesus told His disciples –

“I am the Vine; you are the branches. If a man (branch) remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.” (John 15:5-6)

This word picture of a vine that gives life to every branch connected to it, helps me to understand why I feel so devoid of energy, ability, strength, direction, wisdom and purpose when I don’t stay connected to Jesus, who clearly said that He is The Vine – the source of all life. Connected to Him, I want for nothing, but have everything I need in abundance. Jesus’s supply is infinite – it will never run out. That must be why, as The Vine, Jesus issues this invitation to you and to me –

“Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me.” (John 15:4)

Other translations say, “abide in Me and I will abide in you.” The idea is the same either way. It is the possibility of a constant connection as a way of life that is being offered to me and to you. Too good to be true? Yes. But true, nonetheless. We branches are invited to live connected to the true Vine, Jesus Christ. In Acts Paul explains it this way saying,

“For in Him (Jesus) we live and move and have our being.” (Acts 17:28)

That describes life lived “abiding” and “remaining” not only close to, but connected to the true Vine, who is Jesus. When I start to become disconnected from the Vine, for whatever reason, I feel myself weakening, as I am no longer receiving the nutrients the Vine provides me continuously. But as long as I stay connected, I have everything I need in order to live a productive life and bear much fruit. Paul reminded the Philippians of this when he said to them –

“And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)

A branch is created to live connected to a vine. A branch on its own dies. So for a branch, finding a suitable vine is a matter of life or death. And there are a lot of vines out there that may appear to be able to sustain life, but in the end, it turns out that they can’t deliver what they promised. The world is full of these false vines. That’s probably why Jesus was clear with His disciples when He said to them –

“I am the true Vine, and My Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.” (John 15:1-2)

I wonder if that’s why I sometimes become disconnected from the Vine? I want to avoid the painful process of pruning. I see it coming and I go in search of a vine with a more benevolent gardener – one who will leave me alone and let me do my own thing. Of course, left alone to my own devices (or vices) I will surely wither and die. Pruning is part of a caring gardener’s task. Even though pruning is not pleasant at the time, but actually quite painful, it is for the branch’s good. It is for my good, too, as a branch connected to Jesus. Pruning helps the branches to grow stronger and to be more productive. It will do the same for me, if I stay connected to the Vine.

As a branch in God’s garden, on His living Vine, I find my place and my purpose – to bear fruit – fruit for God’s kingdom. Jesus told His followers –

“This is to My Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be My disciples.” (John 15:8)

The community and connection I crave, I find with all the other branches as I abide in Jesus, the true Vine. When I feel my strength or my faith fading, I realize in those moments that my connection is weakening and I may be disengaging from the Vine, turning my attention and focusing my efforts elsewhere. My joy and peace and gratitude slowly began to ebb away as I cease to “remain” or “abide” in the Vine. It is in these times that I realize I am losing my connection and I need to return and reconnect with the Vine, the source of all life.

Remaining or abiding implies permanence, implies constant, unbroken communion between branch and Vine. That’s what is necessary for me to live a “fruitful” life. Apart from the Vine, I can’t do anything lasting or worth doing. I’m glad Jesus offers me a permanent place on the Vine. I don’t have to worry about being let go – unless I’m the one that lets go. But that would be a foolish choice on my part, since apart from the Vine, I perish.

As a beloved branch on Jesus’s Vine, I have a permanent place and He supplies everything I need. The vines on the other side of the fence may appear greener, but they are not. Most branches learn that by experience and return to abide in the true Vine. Still, keeping connected remains a challenge as there are many things in this world that actively seek to separate, we, the branches, from our Vine. Good thing that when I am too weak to hold on to the Vine, the Vine holds onto me. I find this promise from Romans sums it up perfectly,

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? . . . No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:35-39)

thank You, Heavenly Father, for Your promise that nothing in all creation will separate this branch – me – from the true Vine, You.

sincerely, Grace Day