MAY

SUNDAY, MAY 1

The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Psalm 23:1–3 (NIV)

I RECENTLY VISITED ONE OF Oregon’s natural areas, a level path edged with mature oaks and ancient hawthorns. Native grasses spiked skyward as western meadowlarks and red-winged blackbirds sang from the treetops. Early wildflowers bloomed underfoot, testimony of the changing seasons. Hiking here brought me a sense of peace. My spirits rose along with the birds taking flight.

This park focuses on reestablishing a population of western pond turtles, native to the region. Seasonal watersheds form during the wet months, often drying up completely before the rains return. Until that happens, these creatures can be spotted basking on logs or boulders along a pond’s bank. During the cooler months, the turtles hide in the undergrowth along the water’s banks, preparing their nests, invisible to the average hiker. Spotting one is rare.

Jesus is continually at work in my life, unseen but not idle. Like the turtles He created, I can “nest” in comfort under His watchful eye, secure in the knowledge that He protects me from the predators of my world. He leads me in the direction I should go, guiding me to righteousness. As I walk through the wonders of His creation, He restores my soul. —HEIDI GAUL

FAITH STEP: Visit a lake or pond near you. Walk the shoreline or follow a trail. Let Jesus restore your soul as you take in the quiet peace found in nature.

MONDAY, MAY 2

I would hurry to my place of escape, far away from the wind and storm. Psalm 55:8 (NCV) This covering will protect the people from the heat of the sun and will provide a safe place to hide from the storm and rain. Isaiah 4:6 (NCV)

EVERY SPRING, A FLOWERING PINK dogwood tree steals the show in my garden when blossoms cover its bare limbs. Next, leaf buds unfurl into fresh green foliage. As spring wind currents and rainstorms blow the flowers from the leafy boughs, fallen petals transform the lawn below into a carpet of pink confetti.

As I was enjoying my morning with Jesus today, something outside the window caught my eye: Although the dogwood flower show is over, a trio of blossoms remain securely attached to the trunk. While thousands of blossoms along the outstretched branches had been shaken, ruffled, blown about, and knocked down by the wind and rain, those three tenacious flowers prevailed, unaffected by outer circumstances.

I understood what Jesus was showing me. That was how I need to be clinging to Him amid the storms of life. Not fluttering out on a limb, being blown about by the changing winds of current events. Not hurrying to escape by complaining, consuming junk food, or pointlessly browsing the Internet. Rather than being shaken, ruffled, and knocked down by circumstances outside my control, I need to snuggle up closer to the One called the Branch of Life, drawing close to Him through His Word. Jesus is my safe place when the winds of change and storms of life bluster around me. —CASSANDRA TIERSMA

FAITH STEP: Is something going on in the world that has you feeling shaken? Write it down. Then write, “Thank You Jesus for being my covering.”

TUESDAY, MAY 3

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22–23 (ESV)

YESTERDAY, MY ELDEST SON, WILL, and I drove to pick up some raised plant beds that I had ordered from a carpenter online. We took the back roads to get there—beautiful farmland surrounding our growing city. As we drove, we passed grazing cattle and goats. We saw cute farmhouses and irrigation canals. It was a patchwork quilt of newly budding fields and freshly tilled soil. Our Idaho town is the perfect region to start a garden. I’m attempting to grow my own vegetables this summer—I know it’s a big leap, but I am excited to try. I want to plant peppers, green beans, and herbs, but mostly I am driven by my love for tomatoes. Beautiful red orbs of summer deliciousness. Who doesn’t love a summer salad with olive oil, fresh basil, and sun-ripened tomatoes? The promise of this goodness is inspiring me to plant.

Like the garden I hope to have, my life is meant to yield the fruit of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. When it comes to planting, Jesus does the heavy lifting. His firm hand uproots all the anxious growth that chokes out His peace. His grace unleashes kindness toward others. His presence alone yields ever-present joy. When we invite Jesus into our hearts, the promise of His goodness is worked out in our daily lives. —SUSANNA FOTH AUGHTMON

FAITH STEP: What kind of fruit is Jesus’s presence yielding in your life right now? Ask Jesus to unleash the power of His Holy Spirit in your life, growing your life to look like His.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 4

Whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. John 14:13 (NKJV)

MY SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD GRANDSON TY was scheduled to retake his driver’s license test. Last week he’d failed because he’d hit a curb while attempting to parallel park.