Listening to the Stream

At first glance, the stream appears motionless, its shallow green waters merely reflecting the overarching canopy of green. But here by the bridge, rocks litter the stream’s bed, and its water comes to life. Its meandering impeded, the stream ripples, bubbles, and rushes. The currents ripple and swirl around the rocks and fall over submerged stone, plunging to a lower level, leaving bubbling foam at the base of the mini-waterfall. I sit by the side of the stream listening to its gurgling, allowing the water’s chaos to soothe my soul.

God’s spirit flows through my life like a stream. At times it moves so quietly I scarcely notice its motion. But once life’s difficulties obstruct my way, I take more quiet time to listen carefully for God’s spirit rushing through my life. When I sit quietly, watching and listening, I have eyes to see and ears to hear His spirit moving in my life.

Lord, help me to be inwardly still during both crises and calm times, that I may better acknowledge you and your work in my life.

Psalm 46:10a “Be still and know that I am God.”

Choices

Photo by Meruyert Gonullu on Pexels.com

Every morning as I prepare for my day, I decide what to wear. Looking in my closet, I have choices. Do I wear a skirt today?  Slacks? Jeans? What top coordinates with the skirt or pants? Both must match in color and appropriateness for the weather and occasion. Next, I decide on appropriate accessories. Which shoes? Belt? Scarf? Jewelry?  All these choices match one another to create a unified whole. Once I make my decisions and dress, I’m ready for the day.

Just as I choose daily what clothes I’ll wear, I have choices in what to don from my spiritual closet. What shall I wear? Shall it be a spirit of complaining or gratefulness? If I choose complaining, I accessorize with sorrow and bitterness, to create a coordinated ensemble. 

I wonder: Is this what a child of God would wear? Is this appropriate attire for the daughter of the King? Instead, I choose to wear gratefulness. To match gratefulness, I choose compassion and humility, which naturally complement one another. To accessorize, I choose good deeds for my feet. The sparkling gem of God’s love unifies the ensemble. Now I’m ready for the day. 

Father, help me choose wisely from my closet of spiritual clothing.

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  —Colossians 3:12 (NIV)

What will you choose from your spiritual closet today?

In the Light of His Love

It never ceases to amaze me:  The sunrise.  I sit on the back patio, my feet propped on a lawn chair, facing east.  The sky is gray, the scattered clouds a steel-gray smudge. In the early morning pre-dawn, the colors around me blur.  The birds sing their early morning songs:  “Wake up, wake up, it’s a beautiful day.” 

As I sit quietly and watch, the light slowly changes; the gray sky turns to a pale blue, streaked in varying shades of pink, red, orange and gold.  The sun slowly reveals itself, casting light and clarity on the world.  When I take my eyes off the brightening sky and look around, I distinguish the dark green of the summer grass, and the pinks, reds, and greens of the flowers and other plants around the patio.  The higher the early morning sun rises, the more clearly I can focus on the world around me.

This is how my Savior reveals Himself.  With the first light of dawn I begin to see His revealed truth.  He gives me understanding and willingness to accept Him as personal Lord and Savior.  Gradually, He reveals more of Himself in ever varying ways, brilliantly colored and multi-faceted.  The more I read and study His word, reflect on His glory, and listen to the wise words of ministers and other Christians, the more He reveals His light.  As He is revealed, the true colors of the spiritual world around me are revealed.  I see more and more clearly; I understand more and more of His truth.  His light enables me to clearly see the pathway on which I must walk; I am no longer in spiritual darkness.  My spiritual world, which once was obscured in darkness, has become clearer in the light of His love.  Often these spiritual changes are gradual, just as the sunlight gradually bathes the world in its light.  How many times have I become so accustomed to the presence of the light that I forget what it was like to live in my pre-dawn spiritual world?  Just as I occasionally take the time to watch the sunrise, so I also must take time to observe the light of God’s spirit in my life.  If I am perceptive, I can distinguish the change. If I allow His light to live in me, I will experience His Son rise in my life. 

Father, Your sunrise is a glorious wonder to behold.  Even more glorious is the effect of Your Son rise in our lives.  Thank you for the sunlight that enables us to see the beauty of the world around us.  Thank you for the light of Your Son in our lives, lighting our spiritual paths and enabling us to see a glimpse of Your glory.  Thank You that one day we will be able to see You face to face.