Getting Ready for Take Off

I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills. Exodus 31: 3

As a friend confided in me about a recent getaway, I was reminded of one of my own. It was three a.m. when the alarm startled me out of a short, but deep sleep. Dashing into the shower to get to the airport in ample time for the six a.m. flight, I wearily went through the checklist in my head for our upcoming trip.

The next half hour was a blur, but before I knew it, we had tossed our bags into the truck, thanked our wonderful son for his early morning sacrifice, and after hurrying up to wait, were seated in our assigned area on the runway.

Sipping my Starbucks coffee, I began to settle in to read my verses of the day. Minutes later I couldn’t help but overhear moans and groans as the flight attendant directed our attention to the demonstration at hand. The familiar words to the passengers went something like, “Should an emergency occur, put your oxygen mask on first, before helping anyone else around you.”

She’s right, I thought as I recalled a trip to Disney with the kids, and another time flying to my son’s wedding with elderly parents. If a true disaster occurred, and my caregiver instincts had taken over, there might not have been such a happy ending.

As the plane’s wings soared toward the clouds, I peered down and uttered farewell to the green patches of grass, and saturated gardens whose farmers would soon reap the fruits of their labor.

It was then that I was reminded of Jesus who said, “I am the vine, and my Father is the Gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so it will be ever more fruitful” (John 15: 1-2).

I thought of how many sticks I’ve picked up after each seasons’ storms, and could only imagine how many times the Vinedresser had trimmed, or cut back mine.

Having been caught off guard by unexpected news and choices, feeling ripped apart, plummeting down to make emergency landings, I knew that “in this world you will have trouble” (John 16: 33).

The Good News says even when you and I go through really tough times, the Father is faithful. He never walks away. We do.

Calm or shaken, confident or torn, together or broken we must cling to the Vine, and you know what? Putting God first changes everything.

Jesus says, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15: 5).

He is the air we breathe. The Holy Spirit is the very breath of life.

Just as you and I fuel the body with a healthy diet, exercise, and enough sleep to meet our physical needs, for our spiritual growth to flourish we must nourish our soul.

Surrendering to his will, everything begins to make sense. Allowing God to use our personal experiences to shape us, we then begin to see how a personal relationship with Jesus transforms lives.

The Lord says, “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples” (John 15: 8).

God has been your number one cheerleader, and now with the seeds of “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5: 22), planted in your heart, you are bursting with gladness, and called to share the joy of the Lord with others, too.

Come now, my friend, the next time you hear the term oxygen mask, remember air is to the body what Jesus is for the soul, “Love never fails” (1 Corinthians 13: 8).

Let’s pray.

O’ Saving Lord,

How can I ever thank you?

Your love and mercies are new every morning. You died for my sins, and rose from the dead to bring all who believe the gift of eternal life.

You chose me first, and now I have made my own choice to follow you. Please accept my humble gift of self, as I vow to evolve into the person you have called me to be. May I forever seek your Wisdom, be generous, and openhearted, acknowledging all you have done, and continue to do in my life.

Guide me as I give witness to your deeds serving others. Be with me, Jesus, as I take a leap of faith to lift others up to you, sharing with them the Fruits of the Spirit, which have been shared with me.

I ask this in your holy name, and shall forever praise your name.

Amen.

I thank God for you, my friend!

Until next time…

May the Spirit of God lead you, the Word of God sustain you, and the promises of God grant you the gift of everlasting peace.

With love and blessings...

Thoughts and Tips to Go Deeper:

Did you know that writing to express your feelings without filtering what you’d like to say can be a great emotional release? Scrawling on paper to get your words down, without a care for neatness or grammar will allow you to process events and decrease stress. You will find it to be beneficial to your health, and a great part of the healing process. It can help create a sense of flow to dismiss anxiety and concerns after going through hardship.

This week try writing prayers of praise, prayers seeking guidance, as well as prayers to let go of your worries and concerns. To balance this activity, copy uplifting Bible verses, and add prayer requests for others. In the days ahead I’ll be sharing more about the “Power of Reflection.” ~Have a blessed day!

A portion of today’s reflection was first published in Reflect, Recharge, and Reclaim your Life: 10 Keys for Women to Deepen Their Faith Through Prayer https://amzn.to/3OULiZN

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