STORIN' UP

How great is Your goodness, which You
have stored up for those who fear You,
Which You have wrought for those who
take refuge in You, before the
sons of men.
Psalm 31:19

As a little girl, I loved the time in the summer when my Mother and younger sister would go to my Grandma Benbrook's house for canning time. My grandma and Mrs. Carlisle next door would get together for “putting up” their garden vegetables along with some fruit off of their fruit trees. Mrs. Carlisle had a deep basement with pretty big windows she could open up. There was a big sink and stove with tables to work at. I couldn't even count the mason jars lined up on some of those tables. One day, they ladies gathered the foods they were going to pre-cook and can the next day. There was just about every kind of vegetable you can think of.

Once it was all finished, both women took their jars full of goodies and placed them on shelves in their cellars. I remember asking my Grandma why she did all of that work and her reply was, “Just storin' up.” Later I learned that the storing process was for winter months or for having food on hand when money was scarce.

My grandparents also had at the side of their house in the yard a mound that looked like a mountain to me. I couldn't play on it because of Grandma's Black-eyed Susan flowers that covered the hill. To the back of it though, almost flat to the back of the hill was a door. Some folks referred to storm cellars and maybe that was one, but my Grandma referred to it as a root cellar. It kept a pretty steady temperature and there she kept 'taters, cabbage, and onions that would keep longer under those conditions than other vegetables. Again I would ask my Grandma why she did that and the answer was always the same, “Just storin' up.”

There's something wise about planning for future days. We never know what problems or concerns await us around any corner. If we haven't gone through difficulties in the past or even in the present day, be sure they await us in the future. There are many ways we prepare for future events. Most of us carry some kind of medical insurance in preparation for medical emergencies. We do the same preparing for auto accidents. We are people who strongly believe in being educated. I can recall when in fourth grade some teachers in my school went to night school at a nearby university to complete their bachelor degrees. At the time they were very capable teachers, but if they were to have a future, they prepared with a degree. Few people can food as did my Grandma, but many still in our day purchase fresh foods to put in their freezers, especially people who live in snow prone areas of our country.

One area of preparation that is often neglected is that of spiritual preparation. I'm careful as I approach this area, for the best preparations spiritually for future days begins now on a day by day basis. It's important for us to stay strong in the Lord on a daily basis. If we don't stay strong now, we will certainly feel the lack of it when hard times come. I haven't memorized nearly the Scripture I ought to, but am grateful for those I know that have been a strengthen and comfort in my life during some very hard times.

We can't store up spiritual strength for future days like my Grandma would can peaches and have them in store some months ahead. Everything we do on a daily basis to keep spiritually strong contributes to our being stronger in coming days. I can't do all of the spiritual dailies though in one day and expect them to last me for weeks to come. Spiritual catch-up is not a concept found in Scripture.

When we expect we can store up spiritually for tough days ahead, we leave out a most important fact. When we go for days ignoring spiritual practice, we are leaving out the fact that God misses us. You see, we don't practice a religion as Christians. Ours is a relationship... the most important relationship we can ever have in life. Our Father wants to be our strength and comfort on a daily basis and He will consistently meet us right where we are...no matter the hour, day or whatever. We must remember that God's joy is our strength for any day or time. Meanwhile, we must stay strong in Jesus by being in the Word, being people of prayer, and being a part of a church where we can be ministered to and minister as well as the lives of others.

 Meanwhile, I want to enjoy the spiritual feast awaiting me on a daily basis...that's the best “storin' up” I can do.

My Father, thank You for providing for my every need, every day under every circumstance. Thank You too for the joy you bring into my life everyday. I know wherever life takes me, You are already there. I love you. In Jesus' precious name...Amen