Is the LORD our God not like the sun? For just as in the summer of life, when the earth rotates on its axis, that it may incline itself towards the sun, and lean in closer towards the sun’s light — like John leaning in towards Jesus’ bosom — that all the earth begins to thrive with the splendour of burgeoning life and rapid growth, do we not likewise blossom with new growth and great flourish when we incline ourselves towards the light of God and, like our blessed brother John, lean into the bosom of Jesus?

     Which is to press in and seek Him early (PSALM 63:1), such as in the manner of Mary who found favour with God, for she chose the good thing that will not be taken from her (LUKE 10:42). Which was to take her place immediately before and directly in front of her Father, and incline herself like a child at His feet. That she may gaze upon the beauty of the Lord all her days, and seek Him in his temple (PSALM 27:4). For do we not become what we behold? (2 CORINTHIANS 3:18).

     I was taking a much needed break yesterday from the “cabin fever” of staring at the same four walls yesterday by taking a walk in my garden. And the sun was filling the blue sky above with its glorious splendour. And, for a moment, I was drawn into the atmosphere of thoroughly forgetting all that was about me by being completely lost in the simple pleasure of soaking up the life and the warmth of the sun’s arms all around me.

     And whist I was relishing this intimacy with the sun and life, as I looked around my garden, which I noticed has suddenly begun to flourish, taking on new life and beauty overnight, I looked up to God and quietly asked, why do plants grow in summer? And the soft whisper that replied said, “Because in the summer, they have to dig their roots down deeper for water.”

     So, as they dig their roots down deeper below the ground, being into what “is unseen” (representing the Spirit), so above the ground, being what “is seen”, they simultaneously continue to reach up higher towards the sun — and grow.

     Which was such a poignant and profound message and learning from simply sitting at the feet my Father. For what He was saying is that, just like plants grow in the summer by digging the roots in deeper for the water — for in the heat of summer, water is not close to the surface — if we want to grow taller in Him, which is to reach up to Him as the sun of our spiritual summer (sometimes a wilderness experience), then we too need to likewise dig our roots in deep, that we may find the deep of His living waters of life (JOHN 4:10). For God rewards those who diligently seek Him.

HEBREWS 11:6 - "God rewards those who diligently seek Him."

JEREMIAH 29:13 - "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” DEUTERONOMY 4:29 - “But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul."

PROVERBS 8:17, “I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.“ ACTS 17:27, "For He is not far from any of us." ACTS 17:24, “For He does not live in temples built by human hands."

     For when we both (1) incline ourselves towards His bosom, which is to “lean upwards” towards the sun of His love, which is to answer the homing beacon of the summer of “the upward call of God in Christ” (PHILIPPIANS 3:14), and when we (2) answer the homing beacon of “deep calls unto deep” (PSALM 42:7), which is to dig our roots in deep, that they may find the deep of His living waters of all life — it is THEN that it shall be as it has been written — that “in him we live and move and have our being” (ACTS 17:28).

     Which will be that season and occasion when we all “enlarge the place of our tent, stretch our tent curtains wide (GROW LARGER AND TALLER), do not hold back; lengthen our cords, strengthen our stakes (GROW DEEPER).” (ISAIAH 54:2).

     For “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’” (ACTS 17:24-28).