Take A Moment and Lift Up Your Praise​

1 How lovely is your dwelling place,

O Lord of hosts!

2 My soul longs, indeed it faints

for the courts of the Lord;

my heart and my flesh sing for joy

to the living God.

3 Even the sparrow finds a home,

and the swallow a nest for herself,

where she may lay her young,

at your altars, O Lord of hosts,

my King and my God.

4 Happy are those who live in your house,

ever singing your praise.

Selah

~ Psalm 84:1-4

This morning, as I started to wind my way up to the church to begin my day of work, I spied a deer just to the left of the lane. I immediately stopped and grabbed my phone to take a picture of this lovely creature of God. I had been in a state of rushing and ignoring the beauty around me. I was not appreciating all that God continues to provide for me each and every day. This is something I am guilty of very frequently. I then drove the rest of the way up the lane to start my day of work having appreciated stopping to enjoy a glimpse of God’s beautiful creation and moment to reflect on all He has blessed me with.

We often go about our day rushing to accomplish our agendas for the day. Our schedules are so full, that we don’t always make the time to just be still and talk to our Creator. We don’t take time to appreciate what He has given us and continue to look for more on our own without using what we already have. We have become captives in a vicious circle of wants and schedules that were not intended to be part of why we are here to begin with.

God created us to be loved by Him – to have a relationship with Him. He gave us all that we have and allows us to be stewards of these gifts meant to provide for our needs, not our wants. We are meant to share the surplus of these gifts with those that may need assistance – not hoard it for ourselves. Instead, we have allowed these gifts to become something that they were not meant to be – a vehicle that keeps us too busy to spend time where we need to most – in relationship with God.

Today, try to step back – find a quiet moment to reflect on the many blessings you have been given. Slow down and smell the flowers, listen to your loved ones around you, enjoy a moment with someone who needs your time. Then, lift your praises to the God of all creation, giving Him thanks for all He has given you and for the wisdom to carry out His will here on this earth.

Prayer

Father God,

Thank you for those moments that make us stop and reflect on all of the wonderful gifts you have given us. Thank you for entrusting us with these gifts. Help us to use them as You intended for us to do, instead of for our own selfish ambitions. May we remember to slow down in our otherwise busy lives and take more time to praise Your mighty acts in our lives and be in relationship with You as Your children. Amen.

~ Wendy Miller