Focus

Look around, slow down; hear what God is saying in this moment.

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Read

Psalm 19:1-4 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

To the leader. A Psalm of David.

The heavens are telling the glory of God;
and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.

Day to day pours forth speech,
and night to night declares knowledge.

There is no speech, nor are there words;
their voice is not heard;

yet their voice goes out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.

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Reflect

A prison pit, a little playroom, a workplace desk, and a soaring spacecraft— each of these give witness to God’s handiwork, a proclamation of the wonders of our world. Yet, times come when we may feel surrounded by walls of restriction, and limitations become all we see. We focus on what lies beyond those walls and not about what is right beside us. God speaks equally from what is ordinary and what is grand. Look around, slow down; listen to what God is saying.

Think on these people and their places:

–Paul and Silas, flogged and shackled in a prison pit, find a hymn from within, so they sing to their fellow prisoners (Acts 16:25).
–An astronaut, imprisoned for six months inside the Space Station, finds time to look down from her mission’s work to gaze upon the earth, and she prays for all the people.
–A child plays in her little room. Her miniature toys are arranged and dance to her imagination. She pretends of her world to come and rejoices in her control over it.
–But then, there is us. We are adults at work in our places. Do you have comfort in your space? Have you heard what God’s handiwork is saying in the ordinary about you? What proclamations are made in your space? Do the ‘walls’ dominate your thoughts, causing you to believe such boundaries can actually restrict you?

Listen to what God is saying. God is speaking. You can hear what has no speech, find comfort in words that have no sound– if you slow down and listen to what the wonders of creation are say-ing. You will find cause to rejoice in God’s control over it all.

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Pray

The ways of the world are in your control, O Lord, and I can rest in all that is perfect. May my soul be refreshed in the plans you have made. I am confident you are trustworthy and beside me from prison pit to soaring spacecraft. In my own place, Lord, let me be as a child at play but teach me to rejoice in your control over all. May my silent words be meditations from my heart, pleasing to you, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. Amen.

Go with God!