Are our hearts still enough to catch the gifts of love our precious Father is sending us daily?
“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” -Psalm 46:10
"The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” -Exodus 14:14
"And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, 'Peace! Be still!' And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm." -Mark 4:39
“Teach me, and I will be silent; make me understand how I have gone astray." -Job 6:24
"But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me." -Psalm 131:2
"But let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious." -1 Peter 3:4
"And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever." -Isaiah 32:17
"Aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs." -1 Thessalonians 4:11
Yesterday was a unique day for me. Generally I'm quite the busy bee, and I've always prided myself in that for some reason. I'm a doer, who gets stuff done. But for some reason, in our morning prayer time before we start our days around the office, my heart was softened. At the moment when I generally feel like a racehorse about to be released from my pin, I felt still. This stillness carried on into my morning where I began to be undone by the gifts of love the Lord was leaving for me everywhere I looked.
I can honestly say yesterday was so beautiful. I saw God's love for me personally everywhere. My spirit felt slow and steady, watchful. I'm actually carrying a sadness this morning that this is not typically how my days look, when every day could look this way.
Gifts are tangible reminders of love, physical manifestations that you are not forgotten. They are sweet reminders of someone paying attention to the things you like when they are present, thinking about you when they are absent, and sacrificing for you because of love.
Our God in heaven thinks about us constantly and loves us dearly. He is a great gift giver (Matthew 7). His greatest gift he gave was his Son (John 3:16). However, his gifts did not stop there. Our God is a good dad that gives good gifts. From encouraging family members to life giving friends, from a singing voice to a discerning mind, he loves to give us what is best for us." -Nick Pitts
At sunset, I took our dog Katie for a walk. What a beautiful way for God to give me a lovely gift to end my day. The sunset shone yellow brightly through the new leaves blooming on the paper birch trees. I felt a still voice in my heart beckoning a new season. Had I not been watching for his gifts, I probably wouldn't have even noticed this was from him, and definitely wouldn't have noticed it was for me. But it was very clear, he was painting this picture for me. I simply wanted to encourage/challenge us all to keep our eyes open. He is everywhere, all around. And we are the apple of his eye. You better believe he's always doing all he can to show us his love for us. Enjoy his gifts today beloved.
"I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God; incline your ear to me; hear my words. Wondrously show your steadfast love, O Savior of those who seek refuge from their adversaries at your right hand. Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings." -Psalm 17:6-8
By Rachel Denison
