I parked across the street from the antique store/coffee shop/restaurant where I was meeting a friend for our monthly mentoring session. (Truthfully, I'm not sure who mentors who. Though I'm the older one, she manages to bless and enrich me each time we meet). The parking spot is one I've used before, but I'd never before noticed the olive tree growing there. If I was in California it wouldn't be so surprising, but I'd never seen an olive tree growing in Portland, Oregon before.
Towards the end of the fifty-second chapter of Psalms, David compares himself to a green olive tree that is flourishing in God's house. However, in the preceding seven verses of the chapter he describes an attack of an enemy against him. He then goes on to say that his enemy trusts in his riches, but he, David, is like a flourishing green olive tree that trusts confidently in God's lovingkindness.
Have you ever been under a severe attack of the enemy? Maybe it's an outward onslaught of adverse circumstances, maybe it's a deep relational hurt, maybe it's inward turmoil and spiritual battle. Regardless of the sort of battle you're in, in those times the enemy loves to accuse God to us. "If God loved you why would He allow..." When we are confident of God's lovingkindness toward us, we can resist the enemy's lies and, like a deeply rooted olive tree, keep on growing and flourishing, in spite of all the enemy's blustering.
still following,
I am sitting here after reading this, realizing once again just how great our God is! Your words of encouragement went straight to my heart. I have been struggling recently with human emotions & feelings. He started giving me word recently about the olive tree. I feel like once again, he is gently & lovingly nudging me to see this in my life. Thank you Elizabeth for being obedient & doing what He has called you to do! :-)
ReplyDeleteWhen I saw that olive tree I felt like God had it there to speak to me. I'm glad it spoke to you, too.
DeleteThanks, Elizabeth, for including the photo of the olive tree. Since they don't grow here, your picture helps me imagine that Psalm: the evil enemy who will be uprooted in v. 5 and David as the tended, flourishing olive tree in v. 8.
ReplyDeleteI love olive trees, I've seen them on trips to California. But to find one here in Oregon was a nice surprise!
DeleteGreat post, Elizabeth! Your words have blessed my heart and I am inspired to keep growing and flourishing! Thanks so much for sharing! GOD bless you, Love! :-)
ReplyDelete