Blessed are the undefiled in the way, Who walk in the law of the Lord! Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, Who seek Him with the whole heart! They also do no iniquity; They walk in His ways. You have commanded us To keep Your precepts diligently. Oh, that my ways were directed To keep Your statutes! Then I would not be ashamed, When I look into all Your commandments. I will praise You with uprightness of heart, When I learn Your righteous judgments. I will keep Your statutes; Oh, do not forsake me utterly!
Psalms 119:1-8

So be careful to do what the Lord your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left. Walk in obedience to all that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess.
—Deuteronomy 5:32-33

As for other matters, brothers and sisters, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you. And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil people, for not everyone has faith. But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. We have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command. May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.
—2 Thessalonians 3:1-5

~~~~~

Ready To Burst Into Life
By Jennifer Kane

I curled into myself—
a brittle tangle of forgotten green,
tossed by desert winds
with no direction but away.
The heat of life had scorched my soul,
and silence replaced my praise.

Each root was dust.
Each leaf was thirst.
Hope cracked and folded in.
I lay dormant,
not dead,
but aching to remember what it was
to bloom.

Then—
a whisper like water,
a Word like dew.

Not shouted, not forced,
but gentle as a pierced hand extended,
as eyes that knew my name
before I ever wandered.

The love of Jesus fell like rain.
One drop, and I shivered.
Two, and I breathed.
Three, and I began to reach again.

I uncurled slowly—
not because I was ready,
but because His mercy was.

He soaked the secret places
where roots once clung to truth,
and sang me scriptures
until they echoed in my marrow.

I opened—
not perfect, not polished,
but possible again.
And where once was dust,
now grace grew

~~~~~

Scripture: Psalms 119:1-8, Deuteronomy 5:32-33, 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5

The psalmist recognizes the blessing of walking in the Word—not merely knowing it, but letting it shape life’s every step. When we feel spiritually dry, it’s often because we’ve stopped drinking deeply from Scripture. His Word is not just instruction—it is spiritual rain.

God’s commands are not a burden, but a lifeline. They are boundaries of love that lead us into flourishing. Like the Rose of Jericho, we may curl in dry seasons, but the path of obedience brings us back into alignment with the life-giving flow of His presence.

When Paul prayed for believers, he didn’t only ask for strength, but for direction—into love and into perseverance. This is what the Word does: it doesn’t just inform—it transforms, redirecting our hearts toward God’s faithful embrace, reviving us when we’re ready to give up.

Like the Rose of Jericho, you may feel coiled, closed, and dry—emotionally, spiritually, or even relationally. But the Word of God still speaks. His voice still rains grace upon the wilderness.

What part of your heart feels dormant right now?
Are there commands or passages of Scripture that once gave you joy but now feel distant?
Have you allowed life’s wind to carry you farther from God’s presence?

Let today be a time of rehydration.

~~~~~

Father, I confess my dryness to You—not to complain, but to open my soul for rain. I long to walk in Your ways with joy, not just out of obligation. Teach me to seek You again with my whole heart. Direct my heart into Your love. Fill me with the same perseverance that Jesus had when He carried the cross for me. I want to obey—not to earn Your love, but because I already have it. Revive me. Lead me. Walk with me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

June 9 2025