Birthdays are a funny thing...they sometimes feel like pressure for the one celebrated & for the ones celebrating. My family will ask what I’d like & I’m usually left speechless. As a mama, however, the very best gift, aside from the present of their presence, would be to know that they walk in the Spirit, with His wisdom as their Source of Truth.
As I read Proverbs 23:15-16, I felt like King Solomon captured my heart’s desire this birthday:
“My son, if your heart is wise, my own heart will rejoice! Everything in me will celebrate when you speak what is right.”
Yesterday, Isaiah sent me a copy of a college paper he’d written describing a time his morality was challenged. The wisdom & boldness in that paper left me a bit speechless, asking, “Wow, is this my son?” My heart DID rejoice & I DID celebrate with an internal back hand spring seeing that the wisdom seeds we planted as imperfect parents had taken root & sprouted!
I awakened to a text from him this morning that made my heart melt...more evidence / fruit of wisdom seeds.
I am sure he’s facing many choices in the freedoms of college, but my prayer for him, for our whole family really, is that we’d live a life crucified where selfish flesh is demolished SO THAT Christ might be fully alive in & through us!
Paul exhorts us in Galatians 2 to live by trusting The One who loved first & gave His life for us. The thing is, we can’t become perfect by human effort - in fact it’s the opposite! We not only need defeat striving, we must die to self so that Spirit might live.
I wonder if God’s heartstance towards us as our Heavenly Father is also captured in Proverbs 23?
Today, on the day that He created me, I want my old self with all of its yuck to be dead & buried SO THAT the Holy Spirit might live!
What if our birthdays became a catalyst to remind us of the present of His Presence 👉🏽 to walk in His wisdom & treat the grace of God as the treasure it is?
The Father says today,
“My child, when your heart is wise, my own heart rejoices! Everything in me celebrates when you speak what is right.”
Holy Spirit, empty us of us so we make room for You! May our presence become a present of Your Presence to those around us! Help us walk in wisdom & speak in Truth. 💝
September 16th One Year Bible Readings
💡ISAIAH 22:1-24:23
💡GALATIANS 2:17-3:9
💡PSALM 60:1-12
💡PROVERBS 23:15-16