Believe in God’s Glory Every Day
This week, the Lord put a simple message on my heart: Believe in Him. For several months, I have been talking about how our perspective changes when we open our hearts more to God and embrace His love in all we do. When we look at life as a way to discover his glorious blessings of joy, we can see that he is always with us through his signs and miracles. Yes, God’s miracles are all around us every day of our lives, if we are willing to let go of the past. By ignoring the voices that hold us back, we walk with our Heavenly Father every day and live the desires of our hearts for now and tomorrow.
Madonna and Child window, c. 1890, Exhibited: World’s Columbian Exposition, Chicago, 1893, Leaded glass, Tiffany Glass Company, New York, 1885–92
I’m reminded of a recent visit with my husband to the Morse Museum that has a collection of Louis Comfort Tiffany’s magnificent stained-glass pieces. A security guard greeted us as we entered. “Hello, my name is Shawna. Is there anything I can help you with?” We shared that we had visited the museum a few years ago and we wondered if she had a piece that she would suggest for us to see. She immediately pulled out a map of the museum and began to tell us about the Madonna and Child. “Be sure to look at it as though you were going to walk into the piece from the left side,” she said. “As you get closer, you will see an extra candle stick in the piece that is there to encourage our faith and to believe in God for all things.
She escorted us in the direction of the gallery then stopped. “This is where I need to leave you,” she said quietly, pointing down the hall. “Just continue in that direction and you will discover it. I hope you will like it as much as I do.”
As she walked away, she stopped for a brief moment, turned, and said, “Remember to believe in God for all things.” She added, “We sang ‘Believe in it’ in church this morning. Many artists sing the song, but my favorite is CeCe Winans’ rendition.”
“Yes!” I responded with glee, “I love that song, I discovered it this past year!”
She turned back around and began to softly sing a few verses as she continued to walk away:
Move the immovable
Break the unbreakable
God, we believe
God, we believe for it
From the impossible
We’ll see a miracle
God, we believe
God, we believe for it
Watch CeCe Winan's singing “Believe For It” on YouTube.
As we continued our walk through the gallery, I began to softy hum the words as Shawna continued to sing in the distance. We spent the rest of the afternoon taking in the beautiful art. I often found myself lost in thought, thinking about how God gives us signs and wonders in so many different ways—from Shawna sharing her glorious kind heart to the beauty found in Tiffany’s innovative glass artwork of the time—we experience the blessings and miracles He has for us everyday.
When I returned home, a package with a book had arrived—it was a recommendation from Kevin, a folk musician we met on the trip. The Practice of the Presence of God was written by Brother Lawrence three hundred years ago and Kevin carries it around in his banjo case everywhere he goes as a sweet reminder of God’s presence. As I began to read through the pages, I found myself sitting with every word, capturing the simplicity of God’s love for us. Brother Lawrence closes the third chapter—called “The Third Conversation”—with these words: Neither sill nor knowledge is needed to go to God. He added, all that is necessary is a heart dedicated entirely and solely to Him out of love for Him above all others. As I read further, I could almost hear Brother Lawrence’s voice speaking to us as he added, “After our first step to open our hearts to God and walk in faith with Him, there is only indescribable joy for us through all seasons.”
The evening hours began to call to me. I closed the book and began to quietly pray to thank our Heavenly Father for the simple ways He shares His love with us through others. As I continued my prayers, my heart took me back to our time with Shawna and I began to sing, “I Believe in it. I Believe in You, God.” Peace washed over me as I prepared for my evening rest.
Let’s do something fun this harvest season. Let’s plant a new tree in our life gardens filled with the desires we have on our hearts. Let’s call our new tree “I Believe in God.” Each time you have a new desire on your heart for a friend or family member—a healing, a new idea or a job—pray about it, write it down, and add it to a branch of your tree, as though you are adding a leaf.
Nurture your tree with faith, hope, love, and prayers. See how our Heavenly Father fills your tree with love, blessings, and abundant joy beyond our imagination this holiday season and in the new year ahead.
…But I have come to give you everything in abundance, more than you expect —life in its fullness until you overflow!
John 10:10 (TPT)