Keys to the Storehouse — Finding Favor?

“And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.” Luke 2:52

It is our desire to be in favor with both God and man! That may not always be possible today, especially if you are serious about wanting to remain in favor with God. So, the searching question is: whose favor is first in your life? Is it your children? Is it your spouse? Is it your taste buds? Or maybe you favor appearances? What is your desire in finding favor?

“They [the children of Israel] desired something which they could look upon to resemble God. The gods of the Egyptians were in their minds, and Satan was improving this opportunity, in the absence of their appointed leader, to tempt them to imitate the Egyptians in their idolatry. They suggested that if Moses should never return to them, they could return into Egypt, and find favor with the Egyptians, by bearing this image before them, acknowledging it as their god.” Spiritual Gifts, vol. 3, 274, 275.

Are you “bearing this image” of television, movies or the way you dress, to find favor with the world? “I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. … I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me” (Psalm 101:2, 3).

“… and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.” Spiritual Gifts, vol. 3, 273.

We are living in the tarrying time—waiting for our Lord to return. During this time many would like to be “part of” or “accepted by” the Egyptians—the world, the “house of bondage.” God said to each of us: “I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage” (Exodus 20:2).

Why would you choose to return to the house of bondage—the worldly ways from which you were delivered? Why would you want to eat, drink and be merry with those who are not walking with your Lord? Are you looking to be friends with the world because your Lord has not yet returned? Many have lowered the Christian standards of dress, diet, and lifestyle, to “find favor” with and fit in the world.

Tragically, mingling with the world will cause many to lose favor with the Lord. Will you be called a “stiff-necked people” having lost your piety and consecration to God, and forfeit His protection? (see Spiritual Gifts, vol. 3, 282.)

While we tarry, focus on the preparation of our hearts and minds for the soon coming of our Lord. We want to find favor with God and not with fallen man.

“… choose you this day whom ye will serve …” (Joshua 24:15).

Heavenly Father: Preserve us from the ways of this world which lead us away from Thee. Give us the strength to stand for right and to not be moved by any attractions that may beckon us to return to Egypt from whence You have rescued us. We choose to find favor with Thee. We choose not to be a stiff-necked people. “Hold up my goings in Thy paths, that my footsteps slip not” (Psalm 17:5). Thank you Lord. Amen.

Keys to the Storehouse – Actions Speak Louder Than Words

What are your actions speaking to others? What is your lifestyle saying? You may speak the words of Christianity, but actions speak louder than words.

John the Baptist protected himself from worldly influences.

“John did not feel strong enough to stand the great pressure of temptation he would meet in society. He feared his character would be molded according to the prevailing customs. … In the wilderness, John could the more readily deny himself and bring his appetite under control, and dress in accordance to natural simplicity. And there was nothing in the wilderness that would take his mind from meditation and prayer. Satan had access to John, even after he had closed every avenue in his power through which he would enter. But his habits of life were so pure and natural that he could discern the foe, and had strength of spirit and decision of character to resist him.” The Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 2, 47. [Emphasis supplied.]

“If the thoughts are wrong, the feelings will be wrong, and the thoughts and feelings combined make up the moral character.” Mind, Character and Personality, vol. 2, 660.’ ‘

“Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord …” (2 Corinthians 6:17).

If actions truly speak louder than words, then, like John the Baptist, we must pull away from the world and its lifestyles, its ways of eating, drinking and living so that we may be under the control of the Holy Spirit and not under the control of the unholy spirit. “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world” (1 John 2:15).

“… a man may profess to believe the truth of the soon coming of the Saviour, that the end of all things is at hand; but who will care for that, so long as he acts as though he was expecting a great while to come; so long as he continues absorbed in his worldly interests, and is heaping up treasures to himself, adding house to house, and land to land? A person’s life never lies; and whatever he preaches by this, no amount of profession or precept will counteract; for ‘actions speak louder than words.’ But when he begins to live out this belief, when he is willing to let himself and his possessions be a consuming sacrifice upon the altar of the Lord, when he is active and energetic in warning his fellow-men of the wrath to come, and presents in all his actions an example consistent with his profession, there is a sensation at once in the ranks of the enemy.” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, vol. 7, March 13, 1856, 188.

“Be not deceived …” (Galatians 6:7).

Do not be led astray by the customs and actions of the world which seem to be okay because a multitude is following them. “Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil …” (Exodus 23:2). If your thoughts and actions are more on worldly ways than on the Lord and His ways, you have been deceived! Your actions speak louder!

Heavenly Father: Do not allow me to be so involved with worldly interests that I am drawn away from Your presence and led astray by the customs and actions of the spirit of this world and thus people will not be touched by Your Holy Spirit through me. Oh the terrible loss of souls because my worldly actions may speak louder than my words. Lord, remove the worldly ways from my heart that You may shine through. Amen.

Keys to the Storehouse – Little Sir Echo

There is a children’s song that used to be quite popular many years ago called Little Sir Echo. There are good echoes and there are evil echoes. There is an echo which preceded that song which carries with it a spiritual loss, a loss of eternal life for many who believe it. It is an echo from the Garden of Eden, a lying echo. As Eve was questioning God’s withholding of the beautiful fruit, we are told: “Eve was surprised and startled as she thus seemed to hear the echo of her thoughts.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 54.

Her thoughts were questioning God’s request! It is even now that many will question God’s wisdom in withholding foods, etc., and, wonder of wonders, they will hear an echo of their thoughts. Satan cannot read your thoughts but he can tell by your actions, what you are looking at and coveting after and he will make sure, through the voice of friends or family, that it is okay to question God and to go against His will.

“What is this but an echo of the voice from Eden, ‘In the day ye eat thereof’—transgress the divine requirement—‘ye shall be as gods’ (Genesis 3:5)? Satan claimed to have received great good by eating of the forbidden fruit … .” Ibid., 55.

Oh how many times we hear that God is love and it will be okay to transgress a little and it tastes so good so it really can’t be that bad anyway. Little Sir Echo—the echo that does not tell the whole truth! What was the whole truth?

“… he [Satan] did not let it appear that by transgression he had become an outcast from heaven. Though he had found sin to result in infinite loss, he concealed his own misery in order to draw others into the same position.” Ibid., 55.

He concealed his misery! He concealed his loss! Will you be blinded by following that little echo for temporal pleasure and become an outcast? For Adam, “Love, gratitude, loyalty to the Creator—all were overborne by love to Eve.” Ibid., 56. Are you following that little echo through friends and family and choosing them over God’s precious Word? Will you be found in that same misery when the books are opened and the Great Judge looks upon your actions? We cannot use the excuse: “the devil made me do it.”

God offers you eternal life through Jesus Christ and a life with Him for an eternity of unbelievable happiness. Will you follow the little echo and live for now in disobedience or will you follow on in obedience to the glory of God, and be called to live for eternity with all of the heavenly family?

Do not be like Eve who fell when she listened to the little echo but stand strong in the Lord’s army not allowing anything to turn your feet from walking with Him.

Heavenly Father: Thank You for the warnings You have given in mercy because of Your love toward me. I am so thankful for freedom of choice, but I need the mind of Jesus to work in and through me. I need to recognize the little echo that may be drawing me into evil thoughts or actions. “Lead me, O Lord, in Thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make Thy way straight before my face” (Psalm 5:8). Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Amen.

Keys to the Storehouse – Hold Up My Goings

He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.” Psalm 40:2, 3. [Emphasis added.]

Has the experience of David also been yours? Has our Lord brought you up out of a horrible pit, that hole in the ground which is that thick mud of earthiness where there is impatience, unkindness, rudeness, pride, selfishness, and all kinds of ugliness? Has He brought you out of the miry clay and set your feet upon the Rock and established your goings? Is there a new song of praise in your mouth that many are noticing?

When our feet are set upon the Rock, the influence of the Holy Spirit takes over. What is that influence? “The influence of the Holy Spirit is the life of Christ in the soul.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 6, 1112. [Emphasis added.] The new song that comes forth from our hearts is the life of Christ living in the soul. What influence is shining from you?

The opposite of this is the influence of the unholy spirit which is impatient, unkind, rude, full of pride, selfish, and all kinds of ugliness. “By their fruits ye shall know them.” Matthew 7:20. Those with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit will reveal the fruits of the Holy Spirit as set forth in Galatians 5:22, 23, of which love is the first fruit. The meaning of love is explained in great detail in I Corinthians 13:4–8. That first fruit working in and through you will influence those around you lifting hearts heavenward.

An unholy spirit struggles for control of your influence. He does not want you to reflect that love which suffers long and is kind, to reflect Christ-likeness.

“It is our own character and experience that determine our influence upon others. In order to convince others of the power of Christ’s grace, we must know its power in our own hearts and lives.” The Ministry of Healing, 469.

What spirit or character are you reflecting?

It just takes one slip of the tongue in shortness and impatience to turn a soul in a wrong direction. It just takes one wrong look or action, and a soul may be turned away from God. It would be a terrible experience to know that because of your influence, the devil would gain a victory.

“Christ never murmured, never uttered discontent, displeasure, or resentment. He was never disheartened, discouraged, ruffled, or fretted. He was patient, calm, and self-possessed under the most exciting and trying circumstances.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 3, 427.

Our Lord has brought you up from that horrible pit—that hole in the ground where all the murmuring, discontent and displeasure reign. Now is the time you need to talk with Him and pray:

“Lord, please hold up my goings in Thy paths that my footsteps slip not. (Psalm 17:5.) If You do not hold up my goings in Thy paths, a soul may be turned out of the way.” Then claim the answer and promise for that request in Psalm 121:3: “He will not suffer thy foot to be moved; he that keepeth thee will not slumber.”

Thank our Lord for hearing and answering your prayer and watch throughout the day to see how the Lord will redirect your thoughts and actions and how He will give you the grace to walk in His paths so that your footsteps do not slip back into that horrible pit. Jesus tells us to “let your light so shine.” Why? “That they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16. [Emphasis added.] It is that heavenly influence that the unholy spirit hates because it is of heavenly origin.

God has brought you up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay. He set your feet upon a Rock and established your goings. He has put a new song in your mouth, even praise unto our God. Why? So many shall see that Christ-likeness and be influenced to trust in the Lord.

The night is far spent, the day is at hand, let your influence—the life of Christ in your soul—be a light in this world. May you use this key to unlock the storehouse so that God may hold up your goings in His paths that your footsteps slip not. [Emphasis added.]

Keys to the Storehouse – Heart-Wrenching

 

  • It is a heart-wrenching experience to know a better way but to have loved ones turn away to the world in which the devil has usurped temporary ownership and has caused much loss of eternal life.
  • It is a heart-wrenching experience to give loved ones freedom of choice because you love them, even though you know it is the wrong road they are choosing to travel.
  • It is a heart-wrenching experience knowing that the decisions they make will turn into disaster, loss of health, or loss of life.
  • It is a heart-wrenching experience knowing that your help is not wanted.

Our Lord knows this heart-wrenching experience much more deeply than we can ever know. We must learn to turn our sorrow and heart-wrenching experiences over to Him. Before we leave this earth, our hearts will be wrung with sorrow and the only thing we will have to cling to is Jesus.

God knows our every tear and when He comes, these tears will be washed away. But until then we must be strong in the Lord and continue to pray for those who have shut their ears and their lives to heavenly wisdom and from heavenly paths.

Jesus stood upon Mount Olivet overlooking Jerusalem and with yearning heart, wept, knowing that many were to suffer and to die an eternal death because they had turned away from Him. We are to follow in our Master’s footsteps, which at times will be filled with heart-wrenching sorrow.

“They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” (Psalm 40:31).

Waiting on the Lord is the key to our strength. He says, “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth” (Isaiah 46:10).

Know that through each heart-wrenching experience, God may be exalted. God tells us to “be strong and of a good courage” (Joshua 1:9). You gain that courage and strength for each day in His presence first thing in the morning and each step throughout the day.

We are also told to “Be strong, and quit yourselves like men” (1 Samuel 4:9). As we are standing in the Lord’s army, the army of Satan will try to distract you, dishearten you and break you through heart-wrenching experiences with family and friends! Are you bracing yourself in the strength of Jesus Christ? “Soon the last prayer for sinners will have been offered, the last tear shed, the last warning given, the last entreaty made, and the sweet voice of mercy will be heard no more.” In Heavenly Places, 312.

Pray to God who loves our families and friends more than we could ever love them. Ask Him to work on the hearts of family and friends to break satanic control over them. Remember, freedom of choice is given to us and is also given to them.

Heavenly Father, my family and friends will not hear of the heavenly paths which you have opened up for their safety. It is so hard to watch them turn away to walk in the paths of this world and to suffer the consequences. Father, the path they have chosen is so very dangerous and ends in eternal death. Please alert them to their danger—they will not listen to me. Save them Lord! Amen.

 

Keys to the Storehouse – Desire to Be Blameless

Heavenly Father, please work in me both to will and to do of Thy good pleasure that I may do all things without murmuring and disputing or arguing. Heavenly Father, I desire to be blameless and harmless, sincere as Thy child while I walk today in this world. Help me to shine as your light today. Let your Spirit be upon me that I may always esteem others better than myself and that I may do nothing through strife or for personal glory. (Philippians 2:13–15, 3, 4)

There are many times when we want to do our own thing and put ourselves over and above others. If you find yourself heading in that direction, be still. Send up this prayer that our Heavenly Father may change that selfish desire into one like His of selflessness.

Remember the promise in Psalm 37:4: “Delight thyself also in the Lord and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” When we pray the above prayer with a full earnest desire, He will gladly answer that yearning with the filling of His Spirit subduing our own will. Praise the Lord for God’s word and His promises which are always sure.

“Jesus has opened the way to the Father’s throne, and through His mediation the sincere desire of all who come to Him in faith may be presented before God.” The Great Controversy, 489.

We are all striving with hearts yearning to fill that need to reach our Heavenly Father. Through Jesus Christ that is possible. We should never excuse our shortcomings but always take them to God immediately. Now is the day of salvation and we never want to help keep a smile on Satan’s face because of our neglect to go to our Father through Jesus.

“If those who hide and excuse their faults could see how Satan exults over them, how he taunts Christ and holy angels with their course, they would make haste to confess their sins and to put them away.” Ibid., 489.

Go to our Heavenly Father right now and ask Him to do of His good pleasure so that you won’t argue or murmur or think that you are better than others. Tell Him that you want to be His child and that you want His light to shine through you to others. Don’t wait another minute. The longer you wait, the more Satan boasts, taunting and ridiculing our Savior because of the unChristlike behavior of those claiming His name.

He is there waiting for each of us to come to Him and ask for help.

Remember: “A divine element combines with the human when the soul reaches out after God and the longing heart can say, ‘My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from Him.’ Psalm 62:5.” Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 19.

He is waiting for you to use this Key.

Keys to the Storehouse – A Blessing to Walk in His Ways

A most wonderful way to converse with the Lord is to find a quiet area in your home, open His Word to Psalm 119:1–3 and begin listening to the Lord as He talks to you in these three verses.

“Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord. Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart. They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.”

Quite often we choose not to walk in God’s ways. Right now God is telling us that there is a blessing for those who will walk in His ways. Are you listening to His voice talking to you through His Holy Spirit? If you are, you will have a longing to keep His Word and to walk in His ways, to walk in the law of our Lord. The Holy Spirit will give you a sorrow in your heart for not walking in His ways as you should have been. As you meditate upon this, your heart yearns to reach out to the Lord and respond. Right now, take this moment to respond to the Lord with the words from verses 17 and 18.

“Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word. Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.”

Then continue with verses 33–37.

“Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end. Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart. Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight. Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness. Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.”

Your heart has now responded to the Holy Spirit’s drawing by asking for Him to deal bountifully with you and to teach you His ways and to give you understanding so that you shall keep His law with your whole heart and will receive the blessings He has promised. God will not pass by a prayer response such as this. He has promised that if you delight yourself in Him, He will give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4).

You can now honestly say:

“I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” Psalm 16:8, 9, 11.

God’s storehouse is a most lovely place to enter. Will you use this Key to enter now, to sit in His presence where you will continually find fullness of joy and receive all of the blessings that God wants to give you?

Keys to the Storehouse – Rescue Our Loved Ones

The parable in Ezekiel 37:1–14 is very real to me and I am sure it is very real to you also. As we see our dear loved ones in the world and the signs of the times closing in, our hearts ache to see their precious souls saved. We ask, “Can these dry bones live?”

I know that when the Spirit of God comes upon their souls they shall believe, and be made willing, but until then we are dealing with dead bones that have no life. It is the influence flowing through us that continually touches their precious hearts. The Holy Spirit’s influence can be felt through all of our actions and courtesies, without saying one word. That is why we need the fruit of the Holy Spirit displayed in each of our lives so our loved ones may be drawn to our Lord.

In I Samuel 12:23 it says, “God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you.” We must never sin against God by ceasing to pray for a loved one or thinking that they are beyond help. As long as our Savior is in the Most Holy Place, the door of salvation is open.

You do not know which prayer, which act of kindness or love, or on what day that influence may penetrate those empty spaces in their hearts. We must never cease our pleading for the Holy Spirit to breathe upon them so their hearts may be melted. It would be terrible to miss an opportunity to send up a prayer and at a moment their heart may have been receptive to the Spirit’s calling. Never cease! Never cease!

What a miracle it will be to see the very life of God breathed into the life of our loved ones and those dead bones rise up with new life. Remember that it is God who draws their souls to Him through His Holy Spirit. We must wait on the Lord and not hamper His Holy Spirit from working through us by allowing the unholy spirit of impatience and condemning to take charge. “We are labourers together with God.” I Corinthians 3:9.

May God’s Holy Spirit reach out and touch your loved ones as you turn this Key to the Storehouse.

Heavenly Father,

My children have chosen this world over your heavenly kingdom. The god of this world has blinded their eyes; they are sleeping and do not know it. They are strangers to the heavenly country and are without hope and without Christ at this time. I plead for the Holy Spirit to remove the reluctance from their hearts, to subdue the obstinacy of their will, to remove the blinds from their eyes and hearts and to draw them to Jesus before it is too late. I am so thankful that you have continued to preserve their life thus far. I will never cease to intercede for my loved ones as long as Jesus is in the Most Holy Place in heaven interceding for me. Never let me miss an opportunity to pray for them, as that may be the very moment they would yield to you. Father, I have so much appreciated these precious gifts you gave to me. Please place their feet on the heavenly path—homeward bound to the mansions you are preparing. Thank you, Father.

Keys to the Storehouse – Trial of Your Faith

“Faith … is the great blessing—the eye that sees, the ear that hears, the feet that run, the hand that grasps. It is the means, not the end.” In Heavenly Places, 104.

If your faith is a conviction, you will not be swayed and all that you do will be Christlike. You will be living your life for the Lord. You can honestly say, “For to me to live is Christ.” Philippians 1:21.

If your faith is just a preference, a choice depending on the circumstances, you will be swayed and double minded. You will abandon your faith because it will not be convenient at all times and places to represent Christ.

It is a terrible thought that any of us would abandon our faith for any reason. We do not know what is in our hearts.

God wants you and me to be part of the heavenly family so He allows trials to alert us to the danger we are in. Without the testing we may be unaware of some shortcoming that may cause us to lose out on heaven.

He says in 1 Peter 1:7, “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.”

I thank God for testing my character. I want Him to search me and to know my heart to prepare me for heavenly places. I so enjoy walking with Him that I would like to walk through the heavenly gates with Him.

The whole universe is watching us this moment. May God be praised in all that we say, hear and do under all circumstances. I pray that your spiritual muscle will increase.

“It is coming in contact with difficulties that will give you spiritual muscle and sinew. You will become strong in Christ if you endure the testing process and the proving of God. … Remember when trials come that you are a spectacle to angels and to men, and that every time you fail to bear the proving of the Lord you are lessening your spiritual strength. You should hold your peace from complaining, and take your burden to Jesus, and lay your whole soul open before Him. Do not carry it to a third person. … Say, ‘I will not gratify the enemy by murmuring. I will lay my care at the feet of Jesus. I will tell it to Him in faith.’ If you do this you will receive help from above; you will realize the fulfillment of the promise, ‘He is on my right hand that I should not be moved’ (Psalm 16:8). ” That I May Know Him, 282.

Heavenly Father, Try me so that I may know whether my faith is a conviction, or just a preference. I pray that I will never abandon my faith because of inconvenience. I choose to always have time for you in my life that I may have peace in the midst of everyday responsibilities and trials. Amen.

Keys to the Storehouse – Scorched and Withered

I am losing my interest in the truth I once had, and some of the old ways and practices are creeping back into my life. Why is this happening?

Oh no! The seed of life is withering because the heart has been hardened (turned to stone) in its own habits and the seed has no root. When the sun shines, the little seed is scorched and withered. No more light or seed can fill the heart and life because the first seed withered and became darkness and this is why interest in the truth leaves. Only as you advance in the opening light of God’s word will you receive more light. If you do not advance in that light, the seed will wither and die.

Oh what a terrible loss it is to let a seed wither and die because a heart would not change!

“Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.” Matthew 13:5, 6.

The truth you heard fell upon stony places—a heart that would not change, and “the seed sown upon stony ground finds little depth of soil. The plant springs up quickly, but the root cannot penetrate the rock to find nutriment to sustain its growth, and it soon perishes. … Like the rock underlying the layer of earth, the selfishness of the natural heart underlies the soil of their good desires and aspirations. The love of self is not subdued.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 46.

Without yielding yourself totally to the control of God’s word, you have no root and therefore you lose the interest you once felt in the truth. You have not been born again. The root cannot get nourishment from a stone and therefore the seed withers. That is why the Lord needs to give you a new heart.

“Those who do not follow true Christian principles, whose natural and cultivated tendencies to wrong have not been changed by the grace of God, have no root in themselves; and therefore they lose the interest which they once felt in the truth. They return to their sinful practices.” Atlantic Union Gleaner, January 17, 1906.

None need be so foolish as to cultivate that heart of stone where God’s word cannot take root and grow. Pray right now to claim the promise:

“Lord, my heart is failing because of its hardness. Your precious seed is withering because of the stony ground. Please replace it with a new heart and a new spirit. Take away the stony heart so your seed may take root and find nourishment to grow and flourish amidst your sunshine. And as the sun rises in the sky, so let the Son of Righteousness rise in my heart to melt the stone and prepare the way for more seed.” See Ezekiel 36:26, 27.

Use this key to enter the heavenly storehouse. It is time for the seed to take root and to flourish in the sunshine of God’s word.