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A friend sent me this lovely photo today taken from her lounge window of the sunrise over the sea. I felt awestruck at the beauty and the message of hope it conveyed. No darkness is powerful enough to overturn the glory of the Lord and the hope he brings us. I was reminded of the beautiful verses that start Psalm 19:1-4
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words, yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the end of the world.
The first time I came across these verses I was a new Christian, and battling with the fact that as a deaf person I couldn’t follow what was going on in my church. How could I grow in my new faith when I had no idea what was being taught? Christian friends said that they would help me at church, but one friend said something that make a radical difference to me. ‘You need to expect God to give you personal revelation, Tracy’ she said. The Bible was written by those who were hearing God give them insights about him and his ways. He never changes and will speak to you too as you open your heart to hear him.’ I was stunned by these words as it had never occurred to me that God might want to speak to me or that I’d be able to hear his voice. I was a new Christian, and my life was in a mess! But she assured me that God enables us all to hear him and has chosen us to be his friends. I found myself praying, ‘Lord you know I long to go deeper in my faith, please let me hear your voice and understand your Word in new ways.’ That prayer started me on an adventure of hearing God that is still unfolding today! When I came across this specific verse from Psalm 19, it filled me with wonder. I’d been viewing it purely as poetry, but suddenly understanding came that God will literally speak to us through creation and how he has made this world to be a window to our souls into deeper understanding of what he is like. At the time I felt so excited to think that even a short spell sitting in the garden or going for a walk, could open a door to God’s heart or even hearing him comfort or guide me. Flower buds opening, awesome cloudscapes, tiny flowers pushing through concrete,sunrises, butterflies . . . They all became channels of his wonderful revelation and deep healing love as he affirmed me in his truth through the beauty around me.
Why not take time to listen to God today? He longs to speak to you and spend time with you one to one. He has so much to share with you and so much help he wants to bring you in your life. Look again at the picture of the sunrise and see how the glory of the morning sun is so much greater than the darkness. Are there areas of darkness or confusion, loss or pain that you are struggling with right now? He wants to show you that he is bigger and more powerful than anything you are facing. Let the promise of his hope fill your heart today and bring you new joy and comfort.
