Consider the Lilies ~ Rachel Harkins
Striving to be Wildflower Christians
“Consider the lilies of the field…” Matthew 6:28
My daughters and I love the beauty of wildflowers and, if given the choice, would take a hand-picked bouquet from a field over store-bought roses any day! Even though I admire their natural beauty, I am far from an expert and therefore had to do a little research in preparation for this devotional. I do pray it will be a blessing and even a challenge to you as we have a time of self-reflection while considering the lilies.
1. If you struggle with a consistent time of personal devotions, consider the lilies:
Wildflowers do not require constant maintenance. They grow naturally.
“As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby” I Peter 2:2
It’s natural and God’s will for newborn Christians to feed on the milk of the Word. It’s unnatural, nor is it God’s will, for them to STAY on milk.
“I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.” I Corinthians 3:2
I’ve had children and grands who had to be coaxed into trying solid foods. In a few instances, I had to take away their sippy cup of milk because they just weren’t interested in eating. When they finally began expanding their diet, however, they found out that table food is pretty tasty! (I’m thinking of a 2-year-old granddaughter right now who, after trying them, couldn’t get enough deviled eggs! We got a big kick out of watching her that day!)
Matthew 4:4 reminds us of the importance of feeding on the Word of God:
“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”
We can prioritize God’s Word with this discipline: every morning, no physical food before spiritual food.
“I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.” Job 23:12
2. If you had/have a difficult home life, consider the lilies:
Wildflowers can grow in nutrient-poor soils, but they need good sun exposure and adequate watering.
As Christians, we can survive and thrive despite our environment, but we must have good “SON exposure” and adequate watering. We MUST have a close relationship with the Lord and His Word every day!
We choose which “foods” we allow into our hearts through our eyes and ears. Let’s be sure to choose wisely. (This isn’t just for young believers. No matter how long we’ve been saved, we can never let our guard down.)
“…though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.” II Corinthians 4:16
Ways to renew the inward man:
Spend much time in God’s Word and communion with Him.
Journal and share the thoughts that God gives you.
Read Christian biographies and good, biblically sound devotional books.
Listen to Christ-honoring music and solid, biblical preaching.
Surround yourself with Scriptural reminders. (signs, plaques, screensavers, etc.)
Keep company with those who encourage you in your walk with the Lord.
3. If you struggle with peer pressure, consider the lilies:
Wildflowers often thrive in hard-to-reach areas where other plants could not survive. They are resilient. They don’t need the company of other plants. They don’t worry about what other plants are doing. They simply fulfill their purpose by popping up here and there and beautifying their little space.
Our one desire should be to please God and fulfill HIS purpose. Having a healthy relationship with the Lord and His Word will give us the confidence needed when faced with pressure to conform.
“For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.” Galatians 1:10 (See also Acts 4:13 & Romans 12:1,2)
4. If you are wondering what God’s purpose is for your life, consider the lilies:
Many wildflowers are perceived as both medicinal and ornamental.
A. Medicinal – We all go through times of suffering. As Christian ladies, it’s God’s will for us to minister to others with the comfort we have received:
“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” II Corinthians 1:3,4
God’s purpose for the trials He allows is not to make us bitter.
A good example is the wildflower, alyssum, that, when crushed, has a sweeter fragrance. Are we sweeter because of our trials?
As we submit to what God desires to teach us, our sweet words will minister healing to the broken.
“Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.” Proverbs 16:24
“Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel.” Proverbs 27:9
“God does not comfort us to make us comfortable, but to make us comforters.” ~ J. H. Jowett
B. Ornamental - Praise is COMELY!! There is just something beautiful about a Christian whose lips are praising JESUS!!
Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright. Psalm 33:1
Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely. Psalm 147:1
How can we be beautiful Wildflower Christians? When tempted to complain, let’s count our blessings instead!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God has done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your many blessings, see what God has done.
~ Johnson Oatman, Jr.
Aside from my mom, I consider two older ladies my mentors. When I think of these dear saints, I reflect on their close walk with the Lord, their resilience in trials, their Christ-like demeanor, and their ministering to others, etc. The “problem” is that both mentors live many miles away. Years ago, when talking to one of them at a camp meeting, I expressed my desire for an older lady/mentor in my daily life, and her response was, “YOU become that lady for others!” Wow! I’ve never forgotten her challenge!
My challenge for each of us today:
By God’s grace, let’s become Godly ladies from whom others can glean. As we all continue to grow in this Christian life, let’s consider the lilies and strive to be Wildflower Christians!
Rachel Harkins
inthineheart.com