- Dewdrops –
Hosea 14:5, “I will be like the dew to Israel; He shall grow like the lily”
James 4:8, "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you"
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All believers in Christ need each day a quiet time or devotional time with the Lord. Simply put it’s hard to hear the Spirit speaking with all the noise around us. Many believers in Christ have learned to take some small part of each day, be it morning, noon, evening and setting it aside for silence. This means shutting off the beeper, turning off the television, radio, cell phone, and closing the door. Or, it means walking off to the beach, woods, garden or mountain, as Jesus Himself did, and not doing anything but leaving yourself open to the Lord. Psalm 46:10 tell us, “Be still, and know that I am God.” The phrase "having devotions" may sound foreign or weird. However, this phrase is a simple way people described spending time with God by reading the Bible (and other Christian literature) and praying. Your questions at this point may be:
(1) Why bother to read the Bible and pray?
(2) Why is having a regular time with God important?
The answer is that we spend time with God in order to deepen and strengthen our relationship with the One who created us and yearns to be with us. But because we are all different and because each of us has a unique relationship with God, no one devotional pattern will work for everyone. And no one way works for anyone all of the time. Experiment until you find the time of day, content, and length of time spent that helps you feel connected with God. Moreover, the most important thing to remember as we try to grow closer to God is that God is already reaching out to us. God is the one who gives us the desire to grow, and God wants us to grow. We just keep showing up, even when we don't particularly want to.
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Closing reflection:
It was a hot summer morning, and the first rays of sun were falling across the garden of my neighbor. The prior evening the leaves on the tender corn were drooping from intense heat and lack of rain. However, in the morning the spikes were straight and fresh, and each leaf was adorned with sparkling drops of dew. During the night, the cooling air cause moisture to condense into dewdrops, refreshing the wilted vegetation. This, according to the prophet Hosea, is a picture of what the Lord would do for His people. God said, “I will be like the dew to Israel” (Hosea 14:5). My friend, when our spirits droop (and they will), when we are burdened by a load of cares (and they will), or when we are carrying the guilt of sin (and we will), the Lord offers His mercy and grace to be like refreshing dew to our souls. Just as the dew appears in the quiet of the night to moisten the plants, so too the refreshing dew of God’s forgiveness, comfort, and strength comes in the quiet times of prayer and meditation on His precious Word. So, why are the lives of so many believers in Christ faded, wilted, and powerless? Well in most cases, it is because they neglect spending time alone each day with God in prayer, the study of His precious Word and attendance of church services and to fellowship with brothers and sisters of like faith. So, do you need the refreshment of God’s dewdrops?
Drink deep of God’s goodness, His faithfulness too,
Leave no room for doubting and fear;
His Word is the water of life pure and true,
Refreshing and cooling and clear. – Hess
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For spiritual refreshment, drink from the fountain of God’s enduring and eternal Word.
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