1 Kings 19:11b-12 – Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. (NIV)

I was so pleased with my flower baskets and how they were coming along. The vibrant colours brightened up the front and side of the house so nicely. Although I had somewhat begrudged the money that they had cost me, I was delighted with the end result. So you can imagine my shock and dismay when I went out to hop into my van the other day and discovered that I had not a flower left!

Every one of my baskets of glorious blooms had been chomped down to within an inch of its life. I felt the beginnings of smoke smouldering in both of my ears as I concluded what had happened. Those ungrateful, mischievous goats just couldn't be satisfied with grazing on the abundance of wildflowers, green leaves, and other munchies on the property. No, they had to partake of my specially purchased and lovingly tended flower baskets.

My day, which had begun so well, now felt ruined by the goats' munching and crunching antics. I felt so angry, so very, very angry — so angry, in fact, that I began contemplating throwing a neighbourhood barbecue, and I'm sure that you can guess what the main course would include.

And then, God's whisper within my mind reminded me that they were only flowers, and that the goats had only done what goats had been created to do, so why was I so angry? And furthermore, if I cared to look around, I would see literally thousands of flowers on my property: pink wild roses, deep purple lupine, glowing sunny Arnica, tiny delicate bluebells, and a dainty, white-and-lavender species that I have yet to name, all of which not only didn't need any care from me, but also had not cost me even one single, hard-earned penny.

His gentle, quiet voice within my thoughts, and my choice to embrace His truth with praise and thanksgiving for His bounty, which lay right there at my doorstep, diffused my anger, causing my ruined day to once again become the great day that He had created.

Today, perhaps you, too, might end up with a disappointment or an event which threatens to turn God's good day into a bad one. If so, take a moment and listen for the whisper: His still, small, quiet voice within you, which has the ability to reveal a different view of the situation, a view which has the power to turn the negative into a positive.

Prayer: Father God, thank You that Your insight into the events of our lives, be they large or small, is always a positive viewpoint, for it is always truth. Open the ears of our hearts to be attentive to Your whisper — Your still, small, quiet voice — which has the power to turn the ruined into the glorious. In the wonderful name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

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About the author:

Lynne Phipps <lynnephippsatlin@gmail.com>
Tawatinaw, Alberta, Canada
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