08/04/2020
My Moment with God
(Today I felt this strong urge to share this. I believe someone needs to read it and have their moment with God.)
Of the many moments I have experienced with God, there is one that is especially precious to me. I want to share it with you in the hope that it will be an encouragement to you. God has so much he wants to share with each of us, he knows where we are in our walk and how long we have been there. He knows exactly what we need to hear and when we need to hear it. The question is, “are we listening?’
For many years when our two girls were young, we would go to Yosemite for our yearly family vacation. We developed a routine which included me getting up at sunrise and going for a prayer walk while my family slept. It was on such an occasion that I found my myself walking along the river that flows through Yosemite Valley. It was in early spring, so the air was nippy and there were still chunks of ice floating in the water. It was a beautiful morning as only Yosemite can provide, and I was in awe of how breathtaking everything around me was. I came across a large boulder and sat on it. The sun had just risen, and sunlight was cascading across the valley. I was looking across the meadow and noticed a doe and her two fawns grazing not far away. As I sat taking it all in, I was overwhelmed with the beauty of God’s creation. The majestic mountains that surrounded me, the icy river flowing beside me, the deer grazing near, the sun shining above me, and the thundering waters of Yosemite falls in the distance. Together it was picture of overwhelming beauty! I suddenly found myself blurting out, “God your creation is so beautiful!”
I did not expect a response, and certainly not the one I received, but in that moment of being lost in the awe and wonder of all I was seeing, I heard God say, “the most beautiful thing in the valley this morning is you!”
I felt stunned, no humbled, no loved, no, all of these and more! Tears began to flow down my face, as I thought, “How can that be”? My tears turned to sobs as I was overwhelmed emotionally by what I was experiencing. Suddenly the realization hit me, yes as beautiful as all these things were that God had created, I was the one made in his image, I was the one that could lift my hands in worship, I was the one that could lift my voice in praise! And praise I did with everything that was within me! I will never forget how loved I felt at that moment!
That was now over 30 years ago and from time to time I revisit that memory as I am doing now, and once again tears are streaming down my face. God knew what I needed to hear even though I did not know it myself until that moment. He orchestrated the very moment he would speak to me. The memory of that experience has helped me through many a discouragement, disappointment, and trying time.
Why God would do that for me can only be because he absolutely loves me! And yes, he loves you too. So, what is it you need to hear, especially right now with all we are facing? Listen for his voice because I believe even now, he is speaking to you.
Blessings!
