August 1

Morning

And Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, “Please let me go into the fields and glean heads of grain after someone in whose sight I may find favor.” “Go ahead, my daughter,” Naomi replied. — Ruth 2:2 BSB

Downcast and troubled Christian, come and gather today in the wide field of promise. There are so many precious promises here that meet your needs exactly. Take this one: “He will not break the bruised reed, nor quench the smoldering wick.” Doesn’t that describe you? A reed—fragile, insignificant, and weak; a bruised reed, even more fragile—unable to produce any music. Yet, He won’t break you; instead, He will restore and strengthen you. You may feel like a smoldering wick, producing no light or warmth, but He won’t snuff you out. He will blow upon you with His mercy until you’re rekindled into a flame.

Want to pick another promise? “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Such tender words! Jesus knows how your heart is aching, so He speaks to you gently. Will you not listen and come to Him now?

How about this one: “Do not fear, O worm Jacob; I will help you, declares the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.” How can you be afraid with such a powerful promise as that?

There are thousands more promises like these! “I have blotted out your sins like a cloud, and your transgressions like a thick cloud.” Or this: “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” Or, “The Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come,’ and let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life freely.”

Jesus’ field is rich indeed. See these bundles of promises lying before you, timid believer! Pick them up and claim them as your own, for He bids you take them. Don’t be afraid, only believe! Grasp these promises, meditate on them, and let them feed your soul with joy!

Evening

You crown the year with Your bounty, and Your paths overflow with plenty. — Ps 65:11 BSB

All year long, every hour of every day, God showers us with His blessings. Whether we’re awake or asleep, His mercy is always with us. The sun may set, leaving us in darkness, but God never stops shining on His children with His beams of love. His kindness flows like a river, endless and abundant, just like His nature. Like the atmosphere that surrounds the earth, always ready to sustain life, so God’s goodness surrounds His creation. In it, we live, move, and exist.

Yet, just as the sun shines more warmly on summer days, and rivers swell after rain, so God’s mercy has special seasons when it overflows. Harvest time is one of those seasons, a time when God’s provision is visibly abundant. Harvest is the season of fulfillment—what was once just hope and expectation is now reality. Great is the joy of the harvest, and happy are the workers who gather the bounty of heaven’s generosity.

The psalmist tells us that the harvest is the crown of the year. These crowning mercies call for crowning praise! Let us respond with hearts full of gratitude. Let our spirits reflect on the goodness of God. Let our mouths overflow with praise, magnifying the name of the Lord from whom all blessings flow. And let us show our gratitude in action, by offering our gifts to His work. A special thanksgiving offering to the Lord of the harvest is a practical way to express our thankfulness.