Some days I just don’t measure up. Do you have days like that?
The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy….Like as a father pities his children, so the LORD pities them that fear HIM. For HE (GOD) knows our frame (what we are like); HE remembers that we are dust (Psalm 103:8, 13-14).
I love that the LORD knows our weaknesses and pities us so that in HIS amazing mercy HE takes action to help us when we are struggling. One day I was in a pit, discouraged, really, really downcast. I had gotten distracted by circumstances hitting us me and my family from several directions. I was helpless, they were things that I could do absolutely nothing about. My focus blurred, slid off GOD’s sovereign control and onto the troubles all around.
GOD in HIS great pity and boundless mercy sent me a messenger that day to redirect and encourage me.
Sitting on my porch swing, focusing on the newest crisis, a praying mantis landed on my shoulder, and just stayed there in a praying pose but with his head cocked looking directly at me. As if to say, “Shouldn’t you pray too?”
Now the praying mantis is quite the character. Try to sneak up on a praying mantis, and you may be startled when it looks over its shoulder at you. No other insect can do it but the Praying Mantis have a flexible joint between the head and prothorax that enables them to swivel their heads. This ability, along with their rather humanoid faces and long, grasping forelegs, single them out as a cartoon figure though they are not.
As the Praying Mantis just sat there in his praying pose, I didn’t want to move for I had never seen a real live Praying Mantis before. I had to smile at my GOD’s sense of humor and delightful creation as well as HIS ways for by sending me the little messenger HE turned my thoughts back to my loving GOD and Savior.
As I spoke to GOD thanking HIM for HIS gentle faithfulness in sending this special gift, the little green sticklike messenger, whose pose reminded me to look to the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY Creator, great peace flooded over me. Refocusing, my perspective of the situations changed as the defeating thoughts (lies fed me by the enemy) fled. For if you look to (submit to) GOD, the devil will flee from you (James 4:7).
To this day just thinking of my heavenly messenger, makes me smile and thank GOD for HIS loving faithful mercy to me.
Do you listen to the messages that GOD sends your way?
Looking unto JESUS, the Author and Perfecter of my faith.
Hugs
Sharon
wakemyear 