Don’t Give Up!

I believe these two truths from Scripture are a word of encouragement from God’s heart for us right now.

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The Second Flowerpot

Seven days after the first Jerusalem artichoke plant had sprouted, nothing had emerged in the second flowerpot.

The first plant already had several inches of lush green growth and a number of leaves. But, although I’d planted the same thing at the same time in both flowerpots, the second flowerpot still appeared to have just dirt.

The second plant should have sprouted by now, I thought. Maybe it’s not going to come up.

The next morning, eight days after the first plant had sprouted, I considered unearthing the second tuber I’d planted, just to see what was going on under the soil, out of sight.

But then, as I leaned close, I observed something that had not been there the day before. The tiniest bit of green something was now visible in the second flowerpot.

And that’s when I felt some quiet words in my spirit: Don’t give up.

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Don’t give up.

I believe these two truths from Scripture are a word of encouragement from God’s heart for us right now:

… in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. (Galatians 6:9, NKJV)

… faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1, NKJV)

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God’s List

When I begin seeing even more of my answered prayers here on earth…

What else, beyond what I am already praying, am I going to earnestly desire that I had prayed?

When God talks about doing more than we could ask, hope, or imagine… what is he dreaming of?

Maybe I need to ask him for his list.

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Prayer

God, what more would you like for me to ask, hope, and imagine?

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Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us…. – Ephesians 3:20 (NASB)

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From the April 2024 email newsletter of author AmyLu Riley. Subscribe at amylu-riley.com/subscribe.

All text content copyright © 2024 by AmyLu Riley. All photos copyright © 2024 by AmyLu Riley.

Scripture quotations marked NASB are taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture marked NKJV taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.