Corona Devo 48
On Sunday morning a streak of blue caught my eye as I glanced out our back window. A blue jay had swooped up to the crook of a tree and deposited a long, thin branch to his blue-feathered mate, and then he took flight once again.
She hopped and maneuvered with the long stick, working with it and figuring its' place in the nest that the two were building.
I was entranced to realize that these two birds, this couple, proceeded to work together ALL DAY, until the sun set that evening. For over 8 hours these birds labored together, building their nest.
May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us—yes, establish the work of our hands. ~Psalm 90:17
I was so impressed with their work ethic, and it reminded me (and encouraged me) during these days and weeks of Corona sameness, to keep working.
Even if our job locations (or classes) have shifted from office to home, or, if our "job" IS in the home (washing, feeding, cleaning, juggling, raising)--just like these birds kept steadily at it: We need to also.
God does encourage us to rest, and nourish our souls and spirits, rather than run them in to the ground. But nowhere in the Bible does he advocate laziness, and often He warns against it: "Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper." ~Proverbs 13:4
If we keep putting one foot in front of the other, we keep moving forward. Otherwise, we stall out and get stuck. Some of us are stuck.
But I encourage us today to do what we are called to do. That looks different for each of us, but you and I both know what things we should do today. Do them.
And may the Lord establish the work of our hands for us, and (can you imagine?)...May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us (Psalm 90:7).
I should think that there is no greater joy here on earth than for the Lord's favor to rest on us.
But, I see the cause and effect relationship between us working at the tasks in front of us, and this providing an opportunity for the Lord to bless.
Those two blue jays will not produce a nest by simply tweeting back and forth to each other that, they should build a nest. Their nest is being built twig by twig through their steady efforts. So are ours.
I am now enamored with the "nest", and for the 3rd day in a row, they continue to work. I looked it up, and I guess it takes about a week for blue jays to build a nest. I have to give them credit--they continue to work for full days on that nest.
We each have our own nests that we are building and adding to and trying to figure and arrange daily. Stay encouraged as you continue to make strides daily. Building (anything) one stick or twig at a time is tedious, but the blue jays know that rushing and short-cuts won't do. God knows that too. He is doing a grand work in us and in our hearts and in our lives, one thing at a time (one situation at a time/one person at a time/one habit at a time).
He is using our days and our tasks to build us. And I believe that we need to stay the course and persevere in doing what we know to do. Doing the things we were made to do. And as we work:
May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us—yes, establish the work of our hands. ~Psalm 90:17
Blessings,
sarah
She hopped and maneuvered with the long stick, working with it and figuring its' place in the nest that the two were building.
I was entranced to realize that these two birds, this couple, proceeded to work together ALL DAY, until the sun set that evening. For over 8 hours these birds labored together, building their nest.
May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us—yes, establish the work of our hands. ~Psalm 90:17
I was so impressed with their work ethic, and it reminded me (and encouraged me) during these days and weeks of Corona sameness, to keep working.
Even if our job locations (or classes) have shifted from office to home, or, if our "job" IS in the home (washing, feeding, cleaning, juggling, raising)--just like these birds kept steadily at it: We need to also.
God does encourage us to rest, and nourish our souls and spirits, rather than run them in to the ground. But nowhere in the Bible does he advocate laziness, and often He warns against it: "Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper." ~Proverbs 13:4
If we keep putting one foot in front of the other, we keep moving forward. Otherwise, we stall out and get stuck. Some of us are stuck.
But I encourage us today to do what we are called to do. That looks different for each of us, but you and I both know what things we should do today. Do them.
And may the Lord establish the work of our hands for us, and (can you imagine?)...May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us (Psalm 90:7).
I should think that there is no greater joy here on earth than for the Lord's favor to rest on us.
But, I see the cause and effect relationship between us working at the tasks in front of us, and this providing an opportunity for the Lord to bless.
Those two blue jays will not produce a nest by simply tweeting back and forth to each other that, they should build a nest. Their nest is being built twig by twig through their steady efforts. So are ours.
I am now enamored with the "nest", and for the 3rd day in a row, they continue to work. I looked it up, and I guess it takes about a week for blue jays to build a nest. I have to give them credit--they continue to work for full days on that nest.
We each have our own nests that we are building and adding to and trying to figure and arrange daily. Stay encouraged as you continue to make strides daily. Building (anything) one stick or twig at a time is tedious, but the blue jays know that rushing and short-cuts won't do. God knows that too. He is doing a grand work in us and in our hearts and in our lives, one thing at a time (one situation at a time/one person at a time/one habit at a time).
He is using our days and our tasks to build us. And I believe that we need to stay the course and persevere in doing what we know to do. Doing the things we were made to do. And as we work:
May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us—yes, establish the work of our hands. ~Psalm 90:17
Blessings,
sarah
So true, Sarah! Thank you for this beautiful imagery and motivation. There is so much temptation to just watch TV and eat popcorn, but there are kids to educate, people to encourage and help, and God will guide us to do the rest of we let Him lead us.
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