Devotionals for the Heart: How resting in God's creations calmed my soul

Resting in God’s Creations
A devotional by Melissa Henderson

“They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty—and I will meditate on your wonderful works.”—Psalm 145:5 (NIV)

The morning began with the usual activities: Praying and sharing time with God, having a delicious breakfast of toast and chocolate milk, taking daily medicine, enjoying a refreshing shower, choosing an outfit for the day, and checking the calendar for any appointments. As I walked from room to room in the house, I looked out of the windows and watched the birds. Although there were many tasks for the day, I knew peace would come by resting in God’s creations.

The calendar was filled with medical appointments for my husband and for me. When I look at our daily schedule, I’m shocked if there aren’t any doctor visits listed. Shocked and thankful. This morning, the calendar showed medical procedures and follow-up appointments for Alan and me. Dread filled my body and my thoughts. “Why, Lord? Why aren’t our bodies healed? Why?” The questions kept coming as I spoke out loud to God.

Once again, God led me to look outside at His creations. The sunlight cast a beautiful reflection through the window. As the light touched the carpet, I walked from the window to the front door. Shadows covered areas of the hallway where the sun hadn’t reached. I smiled and reached for the door handle. As I stepped outside, the worries of medical appointments and achy bodies left my mind. I paused, took a deep breath in, then released it. My shoulders relaxed. My breathing slowed. The sun touched my face, and the warmth of God’s rest covered me.

I prayed and thanked God for the ability to rest in His creations. A ruby-throated hummingbird visited the feeder. A monarch butterfly danced around the petunias. A family of chickadees called out to each other from different trees. Red cardinals sat on the tray feeder eating breakfast.

These glorious creations were busy with their morning routines. Even the hummingbirds took time to sit on the feeder and drink the nectar. I noticed how none of these animals were in a hurry or looking rushed. Sitting on a porch chair, I listened to the sounds of God’s creations. I heard various bird calls, families taking morning walks together and sharing conversations, neighbors saying hello as they passed by our home and I felt the quiet of the morning. As I prayed, I listened for God’s guidance for the day. He answered. God showed me that although I have worries and trials, I’m never alone. I can find rest in His creations. God created these beautiful sights and sounds that brought me peace that morning.

My parents liked to sit on the porch and watch the happenings in their neighborhood. As a young girl, I wondered why they always enjoyed being outside. Now, I know. My Mama and Daddy were resting in God’s creations.

Today and every day, peace and comfort can be found with God. Praying, giving thanksgiving for His many blessings, and asking for His rest to cover us can bring calm and joy. Have you rested with God today?

Let’s Pray:

Dear God,

Thank You for Your creations. May we always make time to enjoy the many blessings You provide. Teach us to rest in your creation. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

~*~
Song of Reflection #1: “In the Garden” by Joey and Rory. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “God of All My Days” by Casting Crowns. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “Plans” by Brandon Lake. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #4: “Still Waters (Psalm 23)” by Leanna Crawford. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #5: “For the Beauty of the Earth” by Barlow Girl. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #6: “The Maker” by Chris August. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #7: “How Can You Not” by Leanna Crawford. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Award-winning author Melissa Henderson writes inspirational messages sometimes humming with humor. 

With articles, devotions, and stories in print publications and online, Melissa shares her love for God and life. Some of the inspirations for her writing come from family life.

Melissa and her husband Alan have been married for over 46 years. Their son Mike, and daughter-in-love Christine have blessed the family with two precious children: Rowan and Eden. These precious souls bring laughter, love, and many funny experiences, which can often be found in Melissa’s writing. The family motto is: It’s Always a Story with the Hendersons.

Melissa is a member of ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) South Carolina Lowcountry Chapter, AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association), CWFL (Christian Writers for Life), and many other organizations.

Melissa’s books for children include Licky the Lizard and Grumpy the Gator.

Melissa serves in Christian ministry as an Elder, Deacon, and Stephen Minister.

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Connect with Melissa:
Website: https://melissaghenderson.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MelissaHendersonAuthor
Twitter: https://x.com/mimionlife
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissahendersonauthor/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/ahenderson312/

Thankful Thursdays: God is with me

It’s Thursday and I’m thankful for the fact that God is with me!

All of yesterday (Wednesday, May 29) was filled with worry, anxiety and depression for me. I woke up with a million things on my mind, rushed into my activities for that day and returned home even more upset.

There were moments when I calmed down after talking to a few God-fearing sister-in-Christ friends but as soon as our conversation was over, the anxiety picked up again. I was so overwhelmed about several serious, real-life situations that I could barely see the light of day or any hope in the severity of it all. These situations have been on my mind a lot lately but on May 29 the thoughts of these crowded every ray of sunshine out of the picture.

A few hours before midnight, a counselor encouraged me to “tap into (my) spirituality” because they know that helps me. So I did. For the first time that day/evening/night, I opened my “True Identity” Bible and searched for Scriptures that would speak to my situation.

After spending time in God’s Word (The Holy Bible) and talking to Him through prayer, I felt better. As I closed my Bible, I started singing these words, “Sovereign in the mountain air/Sovereign on the ocean floor/With me in the calm/With me in the storm.” 

When I realized that these were words to a song that I first heard years ago, I immediately went to YouTube and typed in the first few words. The song “Sovereign” by the Contemporary Christian music artist Chris Tomlin showed up first in the search results. 

I selected the lyric video version and listened to it while I read the lyrics only to find that every single lyric spoke directly into my situation! These song lyrics silenced my worries and reminded me that I can trust God no matter what because He knows everything I need and He will always provide for me.

As the song faded out, I realized that God just spoke to me through it. I know it was His message for me that night not only because of the lyrics, but because of the fact that I hadn’t heard that song in years and had forgotten the lyrics until that night (May 29). I know that it’s not a coincidence that these lyrics came to mind after I spent time studying God’s Word!

It’s also important to note that before I started reading The Bible that night, I asked God to speak to me through His Word and He did, not only through Scripture but through the lyrics of that song reminding me that He is Sovereign.

The dictionary defines the word “sovereign” as “possessing supreme or ultimate power” and the synonyms to this word that stood out to me are “boundless,” “unrestricted” and “unrestrained.”

This definition applied to God, shows us that not only does He have the ultimate power over the entire universe and everything in it, it shows that His power is unrestricted, meaning that nothing and no one can stop what He wants to do!

God’s plans for your life and my life cannot be stopped. No one and nothing (not even the evil forces) in this world or the entire universe can stop Him from blessing you! So when God seems silent, just keep trusting Him and knowing that He is working together everything for your good (Romans 8:28) because He loves you (John 3:16) and He has GOOD plans for your life (Jeremiah 29:11)!

Be encouraged, dear friends with this: No matter what happens in human history on this planet Earth, the Creator of the Universe (God) is with you. He will NEVER leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5) and His Son Jesus Christ (our Savior) says in John 16:33 that in this world we will have trouble but “take heart” because He (JESUS) has “overcome the world!”

Romans 8:31-39 (NIV) says that we are “more than conquerors” with Jesus Christ on our side! Let’s read the full passage:

“What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, either height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

These Bible verses give me hope that no matter what happens in this life, God is with me. I hope that these verses give you that same hope.

Love,

Alexis A. Goring
Founder of “God is Love” blog

P.S._Here's the lyric video that I watched of the song "Sovereign" by Chris Tomlin: