Under
The
Canopy
Somewhere in my long journey of trying to get an education I learned that large trees, a forest or a grove of trees create a micro-climate under their canopy. They affect the environment or atmosphere between the spread of their branches and the earth in which they’re planted. Beyond their shelter the climate may be quite different, but their presence dictates an atmosphere of its own.
I love it when the Bible refers to we believers as ‘trees’, as in the first psalm – “He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.”
As a ‘tree’ I can create a micro-climate, a unique atmosphere around me that affects the way other living ‘things’ flourish ‘under my canopy’. Knowing this, immediately challenges me with a choice – a choice I have made to create an environment of righteousness, peace and joy (Romans 14:17), a climate of faith, hope and love (1 Corinthians 13:13).
Having made that choice, I next need to know where I’m planted. This is important, because it’s the place (or places) I’m planted in which I have particular authority to bring blessing and Godly order. Having identified where God has planted me is the same as saying identifying the places where God has given me custodianship. For example, as a husband and a father I have the privilege of custodianship for my wife and family, but I don’t have that for your family. I have the privilege of custodianship for the local church where I am the pastor, but I don’t have that for the church down the road where God has not planted me; the climate there is someone else’s responsibility. I know where my ‘tree’ reaches to and where another’s ‘branches’ take over.
Now it’s one thing to have the privilege of custodianship and authority, but it’s another thing to exercise it, and the first place (and sometimes the only place) we are to exercise this honour is in the ‘spirit’. You see, I don’t have “on the ground” authority in my son’s family (unless he gives it to me when we’re looking after the grandkids) – but I do have the privilege of standing in my place and by prayer and declaration speak ‘atmosphere changing’ words of blessing into this micro-climate.
And I’ve discovered one other place of custodianship, of jurisdiction in the spirit – my own life! Proverbs 25:28 says, “Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls”. My own life: my spirit, soul and body, is mine to rule – to call blessing, to create order, to cause to prosper in life and in God. Actually if I don’t I won’t really be able to be a climate-maker in any wider spheres of life.
The Bible description of a person who fails to stand in their place of custodianship over their own life is graphic . . . we’re given a picture of a defenceless city, one that any old enemy can waltz in and out of doing as they please; and as a result things a broken, things are ruined. Even if we have been victims of another’s failure, there comes a time in Christ where redemption demands we loose ourselves from being that victim and stand as a victor and reign in life (Romans 5:17).
Lately I’ve been praying ‘the canopy’: starting with myself, extending out to my family, then to my church, next my city . . . praying with strong faith and declaration the blessing of God, commanding demon invaders out of my “places”, and asking Christ to be King over every area and every person in my ‘shelter zone’.
“The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those who are planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing, to declare that the LORD is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him”. (Psalm 92:12 – 15)
