Out Standing in My Field

I am blessed to live where I can plant a garden with both flowers and food. It is so refreshing to sit on my porch and look out across the green fields while feeling a breeze. The sights and sounds of bees, birds and butterflies welcome spring. A mother dove claimed a wall planter on my porch and is sitting on two eggs. We have enjoyed several days lately being outdoors. My husband took a few “staycation” days to plant and fish. The simple and quiet life are easy to embrace.

The past few weeks have left many feeling lonely and they have found the quiet hard to embrace. I could have chosen to feel bad about what I might be missing out on. Instead, I have chosen to press in to God and have found fulfillment. In times of trials and pain, we need to be alone with God so that we can regroup. He has lessons to teach us that we cannot learn if we are listening to all of the other voices around us. So rather than being an outstanding person in my field, I have been out standing in my field looking upward to an outstanding God.

There is a drawback to standing in a field when the weather is warm. Nasty ticks hitchhike and attach themselves to you. In the evening you must examine yourself closely to locate and remove them. If you are fortunate, you spot it before it attaches and you brush it off. Once they attach, they proceed to suck your blood. It hurts a little to pry them off.

Sometimes in life we allow things to hitchhike their way into our lives that can suck the life right out of us. This can be a huge array of things such as bad habits, poor friend choices, thoughts that conflict with God’s word and so many more. Satan attacks in our weak areas and we have to be diligent to guard our hearts and minds. Sometimes it hurts to separate from these as well.

We have many examples in the bible of people who spent hours in solitude. David thought he had the lowest of jobs tending to sheep. God knew otherwise. David learned to fend off the lions and bears because one day he would face a giant. He fine tuned his skills on the harp because one day he would play for an angry king. He was in training for great things.

Joseph was thrown into a pit by his brothers. Later he was falsely accused and jailed. The time could have been spent in anger and bitterness, but God worked on his heart turning him into a leader able to shower much forgiveness and compassion on those who betrayed him.

Jesus went to the garden and prayed alone when the others fell asleep. We are told in the book of Luke that Jesus often went away alone to pray. He knew what God was preparing him to do. Perhaps we, too, are being prepared for something greater when our time as caregivers or social distancing are over. We may not know exactly what it is, but God designed our master plan. That should give us the courage to trust him.

I thought that when my mother and father passed that I would begin a new chapter in life. I had no idea of what God had been preparing me for. That season brought a lot of change to my life. My Norman Rockwell life turned in a Picasso life. I found myself shattered and asked God to pick up the pieces and place me back on the potter’s wheel.

He is faithful and gently began shaping me into a vessel He could flow through. The whole time He knew the new doors I would be walking through. I encourage you to quit trying to fill your loneliness with social media and entertainment. That only causes you to compare yourself to that standard. Fill your time listening to God and compare yourself to who He wants you to be. He offers wonderful grace and mercy when we fall short. He will pick your pieces up and gently mold you into a beautiful vessel.

For me God is essential and I hope He is for you too.

Word for Today

But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who long for your saving help always say, “The Lord is great!” Psalm 40:16

Song for Today

Prayer for Today

Dear God,

We come to you with hungry hearts today. Help us to learn to cherish the time we have with you. Show us how to keep our hearts pliable in your hands.

Forgive us for the things that we allow to steal our time and attention away from you. Search the motives of our hearts and shine your light on the things you want to deal with as you shape and mold us for your service.

Speak to us as we learn to listen and obey.

Amen