KEY SCRIPTURE 1 Thessalonians 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
APPLICATION Yesterday morning I was up around 4.50 am to do some re-typing of someone else's old piece of spiritual work. It felt enriching to re-read it slowly and carefully, as I didn't want any mistakes.
Sometimes, it doesn't matter how many times you go through a document, you may still find a missing letter or two gaps instead of one. Many years ago, I was taught that all proofreading should be from hard copies—printed material, not on a computer screen. For some reason, when reading and editing on a screen only, we have a blindness to some grammatical mistakes and typos.
It was spiritually energising to go through the document. I found only one mistake in the previous person's work and was able to correct that, which was fortunate.
From early morning, I already had much for which to praise God despite it being work-related.
Finishing around 6.30 am, I quietly snuck out the front door and went for a walk in the freshness after the previous night's heavy downpour. I think an early start is one of God's gifts we too rarely accept.
There is little to compare with a walk on a crisp morning, rugged up in a thick jacket. Also, under the cover of darkness is the only time I'm allowed to wear my favourite beanie outside. When I was sick and really feeling the cold, a mate bought me a $5 thermal beanie. It's a bit pointy at the top, conical, and I think that's one reason Heather objects to outdoor wear. I look like a taller version of one of the seven dwarfs.
As I walked along the concrete footpath, overhung by nature strip trees, the leaves holding the pooled raindrops from disappearing into the rough texture of the path, praise unconsciously rose in me. Not from great revelations or high and mighty callings, just some glimmering and shimmering of water-drenched trees and bushes and the droplets that became illuminated and transparent by the slowly waking dawn light.
Do you remember as a kid trying to pierce those mini water bubbles with a pine needle or other small sharp objects? Just to see if you could do it without breaking the 'skin'? Great fun! What a refreshing start to a day.
Reaching home a little later to a Bible reading, a coffee and a slice of fresh hot home ground and made wholemeal bread, the foundation of a good day was laid. Psalm 150:6 mightily encourages us not to be oblivious to the Lord's workmanship in that it says, "Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord."
Job 12:8 has a different twist, "Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee:" And teach us it surely does. In its silent regal stature, God's creation trains us to acknowledge and praise Him for the wonders of everything.
It's not only for the great and wondrous things we praise, but the little things, those small, almost insignificant elements of the Lord's handiwork that unknowingly help us get through a day. Praise the Lord for His goodness!
PRAYER Dear Lord, open my eyes to your wonders. I keep getting busy and overlooking these more minor mysteries of creation. I praise your name as I come to see their positive impact on my life.
Photo by Dominic Spohr
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