Familiarity (#329 of 365+)

“Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength” (Deuteronomy 6:5)

I’m back home in the desert now. These last few days I enjoyed clean air
and the beauty of mountains and valleys covered in fir and birch. I spent most of the time near water—a lake, a pond, or a stream. The water was clear enough in one area of the lake that I could watch a fat trout swim nearby. I helped save a drowning dragonfly. I fed a few baby ducklings. In the evening, I listened to a live symphony of chirping crickets. It seems like forever since I’ve heard that sound!

For today’s devotional, Joni talked about how her church friend marveled at a towering rock structure near his new home for quite some time. One day, when a newcomer exclaimed in wonder, it took a second for the man to realize what on earth the person was talking about. “Oh, that rock,” he said.

Most of the people who have lived in the mountains all their lives take their surroundings for granted. They get caught up in their problems and don’t “see” the glory and majesty of God’s creation. But I couldn’t get enough of it because I had just come in from a thirsty desert town. May I never forget that I came from the desert—spiritually speaking—and may I not become so “familiar” with my Lord’s presence that I neglect to take time every day to drink deeply from the well that will never run dry.

“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God” (Psalm 42:1)

Lord, as you provided gushing water from a rock in the desert for the Israelites, you are my Rock and my Life. There is no substitute! Thank you for answering my prayer for a restful time back in nature. May I be grateful every day for the life you’ve blessed me with. Help me to make the most of what I have. Show me how to give back everything to you—heart, soul, and strength. All the glory and honor belongs to you. Amen.