“If we dwell on a perceived threat, panic will take over. If we dwell on Christ, peace will prevail.
~Franklin Graham”
I’m a visual learner. I can listen to a speaker, take notes, and try to remember everything I’m hearing, but a displayed picture lingers in my mind creating prolonged memory. Now don’t get me wrong—I love words, reading and writing them, but an image speaks volumes. A picture expresses an understanding that can’t be explained any other way. A picture is worth a thousand words.
That adage seems to be as old as time. It’s been credited to several people from across the globe. It’s been used by many people all over the world. It’s easily understood because a picture is worth a thousand words.
God expresses Himself to me with His artistic creations, the natural beauty within His heaven and earth. I’m compelled to pause and pay attention to Him. Have you ever taken time to stop, look, and listen for Him in your natural surroundings?
Suddenly many people of this world have time. We’ve had to halt hurried routines due to a pandemic. The eerie emptiness of stores, restaurants, businesses steeps fear and anxiety within many souls. Life and death hangs in the balance. Uncertainty crowds the future. Time stands still, giving us more of it than we want.
What can we do with this time that’s been forced upon us? Be still. Allow the serenity of God to overcome the eeriness of society at a standstill. Look up and around at God’s beauty. Listen to the quiet. Read His words in Scripture and hear His heart. Rest in Him and receive His peace.
God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.
Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Come and see what the Lord has done,
the desolations he has brought on the earth.
He makes wars cease
to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the shields with fire.
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Psalm 46 (NIV)
The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky proclaims the work of His hands.
Day after day they pour out speech;
night after night they communicate knowledge.
There is no speech; there are no words;
their voice is not heard.
Their message has gone out to all the earth,
and their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens He has pitched a tent for the sun.
It is like a groom coming from the bridal chamber;
it rejoices like an athlete running a course.
It rises from one end of the heavens
and circles to their other end;
nothing is hidden from its heat.
The instruction of the Lord is perfect,
renewing one’s life;
the testimony of the Lord is trustworthy,
making the inexperienced wise.
The precepts of the Lord are right,
making the heart glad;
the command of the Lord is radiant,
making the eyes light up.
The fear of the Lord is pure,
enduring forever;
the ordinances of the Lord are reliable
and altogether righteous.
They are more desirable than gold—
than an abundance of pure gold;
and sweeter than honey,
which comes from the honeycomb.
In addition, Your servant is warned by them;
there is great reward in keeping them.
Who perceives his unintentional sins?
Cleanse me from my hidden faults.
Moreover, keep Your servant from willful sins;
do not let them rule over me.
Then I will be innocent
and cleansed from blatant rebellion.
May the words of my mouth
and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable to You,
Lord, my rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19 (HCSB)
I exalt You, my God the King,
and praise Your name forever and ever.
I will praise You every day;
I will honor Your name forever and ever.
Yahweh is great and is highly praised;
His greatness is unsearchable.
One generation will declare Your works to the next
and will proclaim Your mighty acts.
I will speak of Your splendor and glorious majesty
and Your wonderful works.
They will proclaim the power of Your awe-inspiring acts,
and I will declare Your greatness.
They will give a testimony of Your great goodness
and will joyfully sing of Your righteousness. Psalm 145 (HCSB)
Hallelujah!
How good it is to sing to our God,
for praise is pleasant and lovely.
The Lord rebuilds Jerusalem;
He gathers Israel’s exiled people.
He heals the brokenhearted
and binds up their wounds.
He counts the number of the stars;
He gives names to all of them.
Our Lord is great, vast in power;
His understanding is infinite.
The Lord helps the afflicted
but brings the wicked to the ground.
Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;
play the lyre to our God,
who covers the sky with clouds,
prepares rain for the earth,
and causes grass to grow on the hills.
He provides the animals with their food,
and the young ravens, what they cry for.
He is not impressed by the strength of a horse;
He does not value the power of a man.
The Lord values those who fear Him,
those who put their hope in His faithful love. Psalm 147:1-11 (HCSB)
Turn away from panic. Instead………
“The greatness of God’s power to create and design and form and mold and make and build and arrange defies the limits of our imagination. And since He created everything, there is nothing beyond His power to fix or mend or heal or restore.
~Anne Graham Lotz
”
PRAISE THE LORD!