Upkeep
This past weekend, I took a walk along the trail that Emma and I cut through the woods a few months ago.
At that time, the woods were filled with the sweet smell of decaying leaves and earthy, rich soil. The trees were just beginning to show small buds. We spent much of that day clearing fallen limbs and tackling the entwined briars that survived the winter.
On this day in late-spring, however, I found our previously cleared trail besieged by embedded roots and poison ivy and thick, thorny brambles. So I took my rake and clippers and once again attacked the trail.
Thus begins the upkeep.
It’s what we sign up for if we try, in some way, to wrestle with wildness. It’s hard work, this maintenance. But when we see the potential of an untamed trail, it becomes worth it.
Faith is like that – it requires upkeep. We don’t accept Christ into our lives only to never battle the weeds again. Instead, we pour ourselves into not only maintaining, but enriching our faith. We are constantly wrestling with the weeds of sin and clearing out the stumbling blocks, while caring for and cultivating the seeds of growth. We continually nurture our souls.
This means we adopt practices that help us. Daily Bible reading allows the Holy Spirit to speak into life’s situations. Praying every day helps us to intimately know our Father and His good plan for life. It means trusting Jesus, believing in His intervening compassion and mercy and care. These pursuits build up and expand our faith.
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
Hebrews 11:1
If we claim to follow the Lord but never tend to our souls, we will find our lives once again beset by toe-stumping roots and thorny brambles. The vines that we disdain will quickly crowd out the important things that we need for a whole, fulfilling life: closeness and dependency on our Father.
Whether a home, a car, or a trail in the backyard - we must maintain that which we value.
How much more do you treasure your faith?
It’s the upkeep that proves our highest regard.
Today is a GOOD day,
Natalie