2014-03-06 - Beautiful Day

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord … plans to give you a hope and a future. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NIV)

"Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness " (Lamentations 3:22-23).

This morning, I read a devotional that talked about how, with each new day we are given by God, we are also given a new opportunity for hope. I was thinking about that when I went out to the car. I was thinking about how darkness and night are often used to symbolize despair while dawn and sunshine coming through the clouds after rain are often metaphors for hope and encouragement. I was thinking about new beginnings that come with each day we’re given here on earth.

The first song I heard on the car radio was Beautiful Day by the band U2. "Good sound track, Lord," I thought with a smile. I don't think God necessarily made sure that song was playing right then just for me. Still, He knew I was going to read that devotional and then hear that song. I think He smiled along with me, and that we enjoyed that moment together.

We could both appreciate the way the song put an exclamation point on the thoughts I'd been meditating on. Those thoughts also allowed me to find more meaning in the song. The significance of each was greater than either would have had by itself. Beautiful Day is not a specifically Christian song but it enhanced my awareness of God right then.

My thoughts were already turned towards God and His Word. The song, with its upbeat music and hopeful lyrics, gave me a few more moments to hold thoughts of God-given hope and newness in my mind. It helped bring out an emotional response I wasn't having while just meditating on the truths. The emotional part wasn't essential. The truth would have been just as true with or without it. It was nice to have both, though. I was able to more fully experience the joy and power of what I'd just been reading. I was starting a new day, a beautiful day, with new hope and a sense of God's love.

May we all be open to times when God uses His Word along with His creation in some way to help us more fully grasp and appreciate what He is telling us. Opportunities for this are all around us if we’re sensitive to them. When they happen, may we take the time to savor them, to let them touch us on both the head and heart level.

Thank You, Lord, for this beautiful day. Thank You for the hope and renewal You give us every morning.

Carmella
http://www.cfdevotionals.org

2015-02-10