[The Lord says,] “My Spirit, who is on you, will not depart from you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will always be on your lips.” - Isaiah 59:21 (NIV)

I work on a vegetable farm. There are times of the year when strong winds can erode our soil and stunt or kill younger shoots. To prevent this, we plant narrow strips of grain before we plant the vegetables. The grain germinates and grows a few inches tall, and then we plant the vegetables. The grain acts as a windbreak for the vegetables, protecting the tiny plants as they emerge from the soil. Sometimes the wind blows so much soil up against the grain that it looks like a snow drift.

In our lives we often face adversities that cause fear, anxiety, tension, anger, or frustration. But like the grain strips, God provides us with a hedge of protection. For Balaam, God’s protection was in the form of a donkey (see Num. 22:21-33). Job endured intense hardship, but God blessed him in his later years with a season of prosperity. As Christians, we believe Jesus’ promise to us in John 14:16: “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever.” God is our protector and helper through life’s storms.

Today's Prayer
Dear God, thank you for helping us. Give us strength to endure the difficult seasons of our lives. Amen.

Amen!

Amen!