Fresh

Read: Psalm 51:8-13

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation. --- Psalm 51:12

The Bible In One Year:
Leviticus 1-3
Proverbs 15:22-33

What do you think of when you hear the word fresh? When the weather is nice, my husband and I enjoy going to the farmers market so we can buy produce that was picked that very morning. To me, fresh means just-harvested fruits and vegetables --- not stale or spoiled, but crisp and full of exquisite flavor.

I need that kind of freshness in my relationship with God. I can have too many stale attitudes --- impatience, criticism, and selfishness --- and not enough "longsuffering, kindness, ... gentleness," which are "the fruit of the Spirit" [Gal. 5:22-23].

As David repented of the sin in his life, he prayed, "Create in me a clean heart." Then he petitioned God: "Restore to me the joy of Your salvation" [Ps. 51:10-12]. Confession and repentance of our sin renews our fellowship with the Lord and allows us to joyously begin anew.

What better time than today to ask God to give you a new-ness of spirit, a freshness of faith, and a renewed appreciation of Him!

Lord, we want the fruit of our lives to always be "fresh and flourishing" [Ps. 92:14]. Help us to experience Your love, compassion, and faithfulness that are "new every morning" [Lam. 3:22-23]. Amen. --- Cindy Hess Kasper

The Master is seeking a harvest
In lives He's redeemed by His blood;
He seeks for the fruit of the Spirit,
And works that will glorify God. --- Lehman

TO BEAR GOOD FRUIT, CLEAR OUT THE WEEDS OF SIN.