Thursday, February 20, 2014

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Psalm 105: 1 - 22

Keep your eyes open for God, watch for his works; be alert for signs of his presence. 

Eyes open - watch - be alert.  I am called to active attention as I live each day.  Not only that, but there is to be a purpose for my attention - God and what He is doing.  It is easy sometimes to get caught up in attention to other things, other people, myself.  Usually that means seeing the bad things, and then wondering where God is.  Perhaps if I look first to see God, I might find that He too has seen the bad stuff, but has not let that stop Him doing good things, whether it be in creation, or in helping me to meet whatever is coming.

The psalm goes on to give the example of Joseph as God making preparation for all the people as famine came.  It certainly would have been hard for Joseph to see his plight - sold into slavery by his own family, wrongly accused and convicted, thrown into prison - as something to be happy about.  In fact, I don’t actually think he did.  But that did not stop him from trusting that God remembered him and was with him.

God’s presence may not “fix” things for me personally; God does not stop suffering here on earth, whether from natural or man made causes.  But that does not mean he is not present, caring and active.  I need to open the eyes of my soul to see the whole of creation as God sees it and then rejoice that He is at the centre of it.

Honor his holy name with Hallelujahs, you who seek God.  Live a happy life.

-Ann Kelland