We put our hope in the Lord. He is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in you alone. [Psalm 33:20-22 (NLT)]
Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. [Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT)]
While relaxing on the lanai and watching the sun set, we saw a pair of Muscovy ducks usher their little ones along the far side of the canal. Too far away for a photo, we just enjoyed another of God’s “Aha!” moments and commented on how blessed we are to be surrounded by His feathered creatures. We have a pair of fish crows tending to their newborns in the palms to our left and a pair of blue jays waiting for eggs to hatch in the palms to our right. Earlier that day, we’d watched a red-bellied woodpecker hammer away in a tree by the pool and witnessed a mockingbird “dive bomb” both a squirrel and crow who’d ventured too near her nest. Although the ducks were long gone, suddenly I felt compelled to grab my camera and walk down to the edge of the water. There, right in front of me was the duck family! I’d never seen those ducks on our canal before that evening and I’ve not seen them since. Had I remained on the lanai or been a few minutes earlier or later, I would never have seen them at all! God put me there at precisely the right moment—it seems He always has a few surprises up His heavenly sleeve.
Although I’d just composed yesterday’s devotion about trusting God’s timing and knew the words I’d written to be true, I’m not so sure I really believed them deep in my heart. I was still troubled by His delay. Just to make sure I truly understood and believed the words I’d just penned that morning, God blessed me with the ducks that evening. It was His way of reminding me that He knows what He’s doing. Indeed, while unpredictable and rarely what we’ve planned, His timing is always impeccable!
Thank you, God, for always knowing what we lack and for providing us with it at exactly the moment we most need it. Thank you for your inspiration, encouragement, and the unexpected blessings of life.
It’s a matter of perspective. When in Egypt, the Israelites hated being slaves to their cruel masters yet, every time they faced danger or difficulty, they longed to return there. This past March, my Florida friends wore gloves, jackets, and hats and complained of the cold when the temperature fell to 60 degrees. That same month, we were in the mountains of Colorado. When it got to 60 degrees there, off came the hats, gloves and jackets and people ate outside! Yesterday, my mother-in-law commented on the unseasonable heat in Illinois—it was 80 degrees! On the other hand, when it only got to 80 here in Florida, the weatherman called it “unseasonably cool.” It’s a matter of perspective.
Today is the National Day of Prayer. Back in 1952, during the Korean War, the Reverend Billy Graham challenged our nation’s leaders with these words: “What a thrilling, glorious thing it would be to see the leaders of our country today kneeling before Almighty God in prayer. What a thrill would sweep this country. What renewed hope and courage would grip the Americans at this hour of peril.” In response, members of the House and Senate introduced a joint resolution for an annual National Day of Prayer, “on which the people of the United States may turn to God in prayer and meditation at churches, in groups, and as individuals.” President Truman signed a bill proclaiming that a National Day of Prayer must be declared by each subsequent president at an appropriate date of his choice. In 1988, the law was amended and the first Thursday in May was designated as our National Day of Prayer. The day’s purpose is to unite people of all religions in prayer and to renew respect for God throughout the world. This being the United States, the constitutionality of this law has been challenged several times. Fortunately, the challenges have been unsuccessful—chalk one up for the good guys!
Devotions of the Heart 