by Desiree Bustamante

Spiritual strength increases by spending time with Jesus, seeking wisdom through His word, and talking with Him in prayer.

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father.”
Colossians 1:9b-12

There’s nothing like a fresh ear of corn in the summer. Whether you boil, steam or grill it, the first thing that must be done is to remove the husks from each ear. Sometimes there are a lot of layers that cling to each other, making tedious work. But the reward of crisp sweet corn is worth the labor.

The world where corn grows is pretty harsh. Those husks protect the corn from all sorts of damage, from the hot sun, from insects and from diseases, also keeping in moisture so the corn won’t dry out.

What protects us from the harshness of the world? Our relationship with Christ builds up layers of protection that help us grow and withstand the heat of sin and the pests of the world. Spending time in solitude with God nurtures our faith, creates resilience, and gives us a solid foundation to overcome each day’s challenges.

Layers of Christ’s love, forgiveness and strength will see us through anything and help us persevere to the end of our days. The Holy Spirit’s presence will also help you bear the fruit that was planted in you to accomplish from the day you were born. Then, when it’s time for the final harvest, all those layers will fall away when you stand in the heavenly presence of your Lord and Savior.

Spend time today, just you and Christ together, and experience His precious love for you.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado