“Be self- controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of suffering” (1 Peter 5:8-9 NIV).
The winter in Iowa was extremely rough. Although I grew up in Switzerland, the weather here in the Midwest caught me by surprise and I had to get used to the extreme weather conditions. One day I thought I could leave my house and walk down the road without a cap on my head. Within 5 minutes my ears were nearly frozen stiff. Also in my home I often had to protect myself by wearing warm clothes, woolen socks, and blankets. For months it seemed I had gone through much adaptation and change. And then one day in March I stepped outside well armed with a warm coat, gloves and a shawl and what happened? At once there was such a pleasant temperature in the air and I didn’t need this protection anymore. I was suspicious at first because I had been so alert all the time. But it was true, I didn’t need this protection anymore, and I tell you, that was such an awesome relief.
It is a fact that as believers we stand in a warzone. We need to wear our spiritual armor all the time and fight each day battle after battle. We resist and overcome our enemy by the blood of the Lamb. We get used to this lifestyle of a warrior very much like I did with the weather conditions. But there is this place in His presence where you can come freely and let go of your weapons and leave your armor behind. This is a realm where you can fellowship with the LORD Jesus Christ in absolute freedom and security. I pray for you, you mighty warrior of the LORD in shining armor. May you be always drawn to come back to that place of rest after a battle and spend time with your wonderful King.
Have a wonderfully blessed day!
Suzanne Tanner
“So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised”(Hebrews 10: 35 -36 NIV).
I was doing some hard working in the yard that day. My job was to rake all the old leaves from the lawn, from the flowerbeds and from underneath all the bushes that I hadn’t collected last fall! I prayed that I would be able to do this work with a good attitude and that the LORD would give me some sort of meaning to all of this. And of course He did! And so as I was scraping all the old leaves from the top of the flowerbed I saw something so beautiful. There from underneath I saw a little green something that was springing forth out of the ground! Ah yes, of course, the wintertime was over. And so this little surprise made all my hard work worthwhile because now I understood why I had to rake. I had to make a way for the flowers to come out. It finally all made sense to me.
Perhaps you are in a situation which doesn’t make much sense to you. Perhaps you’ve worked hard and lost all of your joy. You know what? The LORD knows about your situation and His desire for you is that you can walk in joy and hope all the time even in tough times. The truth is that He will always reward your perseverance. So just stay close to Him, press through and don’t forget to share your thoughts with Him. Just hold onto Him and sure enough you will receive your reward.
Have a wonderfully blessed day!
Suzanne Tanner
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing" (John 15:5 NIV).
It was such a nice and warm day and so I decided to take a walk to the nearby park. I had missed my walks a lot and because our winter was so cold, I had to wait for the spring to come. I was so glad to be back and to see the squirrels and the geese again and to enjoy the nature. Whilst I was walking on my routine path I observed the beautiful trees. I stopped at a very remarkable tree and made an interesting observation. Next to this huge and strong tree I saw a shoot that was growing alongside. I noticed that it was not growing independently, no it was somehow drawn to this tree and clung onto it and it was impossible for me to break it loose. I thought if this shoot had grown all on its own I could have pulled it out of the ground easily and I also would have been able to bend its small branches. But this shoot had grown so close to this tree and had become so strong by clinging to it that it actually became one with it.
And then the LORD explained to me that apart from Him we are weak, but when we cling to him, we become extremely strong. We grow close to Him and there is nothing, absolutely nothing that can separate us from Him. He is our refuge, our protector and strong tower. So whatever you are facing in your life know that by clinging onto the LORD you will grow close to Him. You will become one with Him and you will discover that your true strength lies in Him alone.
Have a wonderfully blessed day!Suzanne Tanner
“But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,' declares the LORD,' because you are called an outcast, Zion for whom no-one cares” (Jeremiah 30:17 NIV).I made an interesting observation recently. When I moved into my husband’s house I noticed that the plants looked a little dull. It seemed as if they had no life within them. The leaves were dry and without any glow. And since I was now in charge of the household I thought I would water our plants on a regular basis. So I made up my mind to water them every Friday with a cup of water. And after a few weeks I could already see a significant change in their appearance. New leaves started to come forth and I saw a new strength in the plants. It was such an encouraging thing to see that by giving the plants water on a continual basis they would grow, become strong and healthy.
Do you know that the LORD deeply cares for your well-being? As I was taking care of the leaves and watering the plants I felt so strongly that the LORD desires to restore, to heal and to bring forth such a beauty in His children. So why not allow him to be your restorer and your healer? He has hope for your life and whatever was lost He will find! Know in your heart that in His care you are absolutely safe.
Have a wonderfully blessed day!Suzanne Tanner
