Marybeth Whalen
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” Matthew 5:8 (NIV)
We have decided to sell our house. The sign sits in the yard like a beacon proclaiming the “out of control” state of my life. I can’t control who comes to see my house and when. I can’t control whether they will make an offer, or when. I can’t control whether there will be a house we love available when we do get a contract. Most of all, with six children and two adults living in our house, I can’t control the fact that it just will never be in picture perfect condition. So I pray. A lot. I pray that God would send a buyer who sees the house for exactly what it is—a real home. And I pray that He would help me not to get so worked up about it all.
Last night, my husband and I stood outside in the falling light of evening, discussing our house situation—our most popular topic of conversation lately. While we talked, our five-year-old son ran about in the grass, weaving through the tree trunks without a care in the world. I noticed him out of the corner of my eye as we talked, but didn’t pay a whole lot of attention to what he was doing. I had more important things to do than to frolic about without a care in the world.
Then I noticed him suddenly dart over to capture something in his hands. A firefly. The sad part is, prior to that moment I hadn’t even noticed that there were fireflies out. Fireflies have always symbolized the start of summer to me. I celebrate the sight of them as I realize that a season of cookouts and beach vacations, longer days and less routine are upon us. As I took in the scene, I noticed their little flickers of light were all around me—flickers that had been there the whole time. My son had certainly noticed them. In his little boy world, there was nothing more important than chasing fireflies. Not for sale signs or mortgage rates. He had noticed the little things, and I had overlooked them because I was too focused on the big things.
I thought about how God’s activity is like that. He is at work all around us, all the time. Little flickers of surprise and encouragement, joy and affirmation are all around us if we will only look up from life’s demands to notice they are there. We have to learn to live that way—with the heart and eyes of a child—to truly see Him. I want to spend my summer catching fireflies and delighting in the marvel of God’s creations. I want to live my life intentionally seeking out the little ways that God shows me He loves me, He knows me, He created me and He is indeed actively involved in my life. I know my faith would grow more if I stopped worrying and started chasing after Him the way my son was chasing those fireflies. I don’t want to miss the surprises He has planned for me every day. I want to see Him more and worry less. Every time I see a firefly this summer, I plan to thank Him for the lesson He taught me through a little boy on an early summer evening.
Dear Lord, please help me grow my faith by shrinking my vision. Help me to see You in the little things and let some of the big things go. Please help me to live life aware of Your activity. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Related Resources:
Do you know Him?
Join us for more Everyday Life encouragement
Birds in My Mustard Tree by Susanne Scheppmann
Application Steps:
List some of the little things in your life that bring you great joy—think about the way that each season brings its own little celebrations. Have you remembered to celebrate God’s creation lately?
Reflections:
What is a “big thing” in your life right now? Can you take a day to let it go and refocus on what God is doing instead?
Power Verses:
Acts 15:9, “He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith.” (NIV)
Psalm 24: 3-4, “Who may ascend the hill of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false.” (NIV)
Psalm 73:1, “Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.” (NIV)
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” Matthew 5:8 (NIV)
We have decided to sell our house. The sign sits in the yard like a beacon proclaiming the “out of control” state of my life. I can’t control who comes to see my house and when. I can’t control whether they will make an offer, or when. I can’t control whether there will be a house we love available when we do get a contract. Most of all, with six children and two adults living in our house, I can’t control the fact that it just will never be in picture perfect condition. So I pray. A lot. I pray that God would send a buyer who sees the house for exactly what it is—a real home. And I pray that He would help me not to get so worked up about it all.
Last night, my husband and I stood outside in the falling light of evening, discussing our house situation—our most popular topic of conversation lately. While we talked, our five-year-old son ran about in the grass, weaving through the tree trunks without a care in the world. I noticed him out of the corner of my eye as we talked, but didn’t pay a whole lot of attention to what he was doing. I had more important things to do than to frolic about without a care in the world.
Then I noticed him suddenly dart over to capture something in his hands. A firefly. The sad part is, prior to that moment I hadn’t even noticed that there were fireflies out. Fireflies have always symbolized the start of summer to me. I celebrate the sight of them as I realize that a season of cookouts and beach vacations, longer days and less routine are upon us. As I took in the scene, I noticed their little flickers of light were all around me—flickers that had been there the whole time. My son had certainly noticed them. In his little boy world, there was nothing more important than chasing fireflies. Not for sale signs or mortgage rates. He had noticed the little things, and I had overlooked them because I was too focused on the big things.
I thought about how God’s activity is like that. He is at work all around us, all the time. Little flickers of surprise and encouragement, joy and affirmation are all around us if we will only look up from life’s demands to notice they are there. We have to learn to live that way—with the heart and eyes of a child—to truly see Him. I want to spend my summer catching fireflies and delighting in the marvel of God’s creations. I want to live my life intentionally seeking out the little ways that God shows me He loves me, He knows me, He created me and He is indeed actively involved in my life. I know my faith would grow more if I stopped worrying and started chasing after Him the way my son was chasing those fireflies. I don’t want to miss the surprises He has planned for me every day. I want to see Him more and worry less. Every time I see a firefly this summer, I plan to thank Him for the lesson He taught me through a little boy on an early summer evening.
Dear Lord, please help me grow my faith by shrinking my vision. Help me to see You in the little things and let some of the big things go. Please help me to live life aware of Your activity. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Related Resources:
Do you know Him?
Join us for more Everyday Life encouragement
Birds in My Mustard Tree by Susanne Scheppmann
Application Steps:
List some of the little things in your life that bring you great joy—think about the way that each season brings its own little celebrations. Have you remembered to celebrate God’s creation lately?
Reflections:
What is a “big thing” in your life right now? Can you take a day to let it go and refocus on what God is doing instead?
Power Verses:
Acts 15:9, “He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith.” (NIV)
Psalm 24: 3-4, “Who may ascend the hill of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false.” (NIV)
Psalm 73:1, “Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.” (NIV)
Labels: God's Perspective, Patience, Waiting On God, Walking in Faith
11 Comments:
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” Matthew 5:8
Thank you!
you brought the fireflies here in my backyard smiling!
I needed that today. I have some things that need to let go and give it to God. Thanks
"THANK YOU"--THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT i NEEDED TO SEE--WE ARE IN THE SITUATION OF OUR HOUSE FOR SALE. MY HUSBAND IS IN TEXAS WITH THAT HOUSE AND I AM IN MONTANA WHERE WE BOTH USE TO LIVE-NOW HE'S READY TO COME BACK HOME--WHEN IN GOD'S TIME FOR HIM TO COME HOME. I HAVE BEEN SHARING WITH MY HUSBAND THE LITTLE THINGS AND THEN JUST CONFIRMS THAT THERE IS WHERE WE NEED TO BE LOOKING. GOD HAS THE BIG THINGS UNDER CONTROL. PTL! DEE
ok, i need to say nothing. i already did. and, yes, ive already started to see the lil things,..my kids eyes that light up talking about minute details of spiderman. my son excited to sell his old toys at a garage sale for trade in money. so many big things to worry about-i do delight in the little. it's been 6 long months. what else do i have to do? God is so good. James 5 and Romans 5 has been carrying me lately. May it bless you as well. We are not alone in this challanging 'buyers' market.All day I cry MY GOD CAN DO ALL THINGS, EXCEEDINGLY AND ABUNDANTLY.
IN HIM,
c
Thank you for reminding me that it's impossible to absorb all that God has for us when we are consumed by worry. God has a plan for my life and yours!! How exciting is that?? I needed to be reminded to "let go and let God". It's such a refreshing feeling to "catch the fireflies".
Thanks and God Bless.
JESUS!!!!!!! I am so excited right now. I have been praying daily for a buyer. I am driving an hour and 40 minutes to work and my husband is comutting close to that distance. I have 3 beautiful girls and a wonderful husband. Instead of comming home and enjoying my family every day I am wasteing energy on complaints about dirty clothes and messy floors(who wants to buy a dirty house, right?). After complaint fest I clean.....and complain some more. Wow, God truly spoke to me through this devotional.I know A buyer will come in his perfect time and I will not sacrafice my time with my family for complaints or cleaning.
Thanks,
L.Dupree
We are going through a tough time right now. My husband is unemployed and we seem to have a lot of doors shut on us. Thanks for reminding me in this time of trial that God has been providing us with little firefly moments along the way. He has been teaching this thick headed gal to rely on Him - not a pay cheque!
I think my biggest problem is worrying. But the word tells us that not even the birds of the air worry about what they are going to eat. Praise God that we are priority to Christ Jesus. Thank you for refocusing my perspective on what my eyes should be stayed upon. Nothing less than Jesus Christ and His righteousness!
I have always had a really hard time waiting on the Lord to reveal his plan. Lately my waiting has turned into a lot of worry. I have tried taking things into my own hands, knowing that it only leads to hurt, and it led me down a pathway of more hurt than what God was wanting me to go through. By reading this devotional today, God has refocused my attention on Him and it has brought me so much peace in my life. I am so thankful for God knowing what's best for me and for second chances! I need to notice all of the small things that he is doing in my life and leave the bigger things in his hands. I am really going to try to let go of this huge desire that has not been fulfilled, yet. I know that God is working and things can change in a matter of minutes. Thank the Lord for the "fireflies" in my life.
Today, this devotional was my firefly. The little bit of encouragement I needed from God given through another. Not only should we look for fireflies but strive to be that little bit of light that helps another. Thanks!
Thanks for this uplifting message.
My family has been experiencing really, really hard times and I do not know from day to day if we can continue on....but God is Good and He is Faithful and will see us through!!!
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