Abundance.

It’s no surprise that the word "abundance" keeps coming to mind in this season. My kitchen island resembles the produce section of a grocery store, and the basement shelves are filling up with the results of my efforts to can and preserve. Sometimes, the abundance feels overwhelming. The heavy rains in Minnesota earlier this summer have made last summer's drought a distant memory. At the beginning of the season, I found myself following last year’s routines—hoarding water from my rain barrel, worrying about my young fruit trees, and anxiously checking the forecast. It felt strange to see the woods so green and the riverbanks overflowing onto the trails. What a powerful reminder that God’s patterns of abundance often grow out of places of scarcity and drought.

So, how do I lean into this abundance? As I reflect on this today, I wonder: How can I embrace abundance when my mind is still fixed on patterns of scarcity? It’s hard not to worry about life’s droughts. How do I train my soul to breathe in God’s abundance? How can my habits make room for trust in God's provision?

Now, as we face the driest September on record, I’m back to watering the young trees, and the river has receded so much that I can walk to the middle. Even in the driest times, our souls seek out the patterns that sustain us.

Here is a breath prayer I’m using in this season. I invite you to use it to quiet your mind and settle into trusting God’s abundance today:

ABUNDANCE — As you breathe in, let the images and colors of October’s abundance fill your lungs. Focus on the word "ABUNDANCE" as the air fills you.

DOUBT — As you breathe out, release your patterns of doubt and scarcity, letting the Holy Spirit hold them for you. Focus on the word "DOUBT" as you empty your lungs.

May this prayer help you lean into God's promise of abundance, finding peace in the knowledge that it is always at work—even in the driest seasons.