by David Brenneman
It's always fascinating when recognition dawns in my soul for God's fingerprints in my life.
Though Satan and his minions try and try and try to cause doubt and forgetfulness, God steadfastly stands His ground as my Defender, my Healer, my Provider.
Yesterday was one of those days when I can honestly say it was a day of fingerprints of God.
Steven Curtis Chapman had a song out a long time ago called that. It came to mind early this morning when I was pondering the events of yesterday.
"I can see tears filling your eyes
And I know where they're coming from
They're coming from a heart that's broken in two
By what you don't see
The person in the mirror
Doesn't look like the magazine
Oh, but when I look at you it's clear to me that...
I can see the fingerprints of God
When I look at you
I can see the fingerprints of God
And I know it's true
You're a masterpiece
That all creation quietly applauds
And you're covered with the fingerprints of God
Never has there been and never again
Will there be another you
Fashioned by God's hand
And perfectly planned
To be just who you are
And what He's been creating
Since the first beat of your heart
Is a living breathing priceless work of art...
I can see the fingerprints of God
When I look at you
I can see the fingerprints of God
And I know it's true
You're a masterpiece
That all creation quietly applauds
And you're covered with the fingerprints of God
Just look at you
You're a wonder in the making
Oh, and God's not through, no
In fact, He's just getting started...
I can see the fingerprints of God
When I look at you
I can see the fingerprints of God
And I know it's true
You're a masterpiece
That all creation quietly applauds
And you're covered with the fingerprints of God" - Steven Curtis Chapman "Fingerprints of God"
Yesterday I was thinking of my Brother, Scott, and the work he's done, where he's been, what he's accomplished in his life that I'm not sure even he sees. I was also pondering the newfound relationship with a friend of his, Mike, that happened with me yesterday as well. Literally God's fingerprints were all over the day and His intent was for me to SEE it, to RECOGNIZE it.
There's another song that I heard a long time ago, I believe I was introduced to it by my Wife, it's called "My Anchor Holds".
"I have journeyed
Through the long, dark nightOut on the open sea
By faith aloneSight unknownAnd yet His eyes were watching me
The anchor holdsThough the ship is batteredThe anchor holdsThough the sails are torn
I have fallen on my kneesAs I faced the raging seasThe anchor holdsIn spite of the storm
I've had visionsI've had dreamsI've even held them in my hand
But I never knewThey would slip right throughLike they were only grains of sand
The anchor holdsThough the ship is batteredThe anchor holdsThough the sails are torn
I have fallen on my kneesAs I faced the raging seasThe anchor holdsIn spite of the storm
I have been youngBut I am older nowAnd there has been beautyThat these eyes have seen
But it was in the nightThrough the storms of my lifeOh, that's where God provedHis love to me
The anchor holdsThough the ship is batteredThe anchor holdsThough the sails are torn
I have fallen on my kneesAs I faced the raging seasThe anchor holdsIn spite of the storm
I have fallen on my kneesAs I faced the raging seasThe anchor holdsIn spite of the storm" - Ray Boltz "My Anchor Holds"
Yes a lot of lyrics to read but the message is for certain: We won't always see the fingerprints of God in what's happening to us and around us. It's a fantastic reminder concerning having Godly people in your life. It's a fantastic reminder from God to show us on deeper levels that we are not alone, that there IS a plan, and He IS working all things according to the counsel of His own Will, to cause all things to work together for good for those who have been called according to His purpose in Christ Jesus.
My Brother performs some wonderous things with his hands in mechanical work. What he has been blessed with many take for granted. He's also been blessed with many around him at the various places he frequents for even just parts. I can see in them the care they have for him and the concerns for the things in his life.
We often don't see what God's doing because we're in the middle of it. Yesterday, the day began with intense fog. We were several hours delayed in going to my Brother's workplace to get the truck fixed. But we weren't delayed in when God wanted us to leave. We were on time according to His schedule.
God provided some home made soup through my Mom upon our arrival. Right on time in His schedule.
God got me over to the workplace. Right on time to His schedule.
Got introduced me to a friend of my Brother's. We struck up some really good conversations. Had we been several hours earlier, wouldn't have happened. Right on time to His schedule.
Got prompted to go with this friend of my Brother's by the Spirit. The purpose evidently was to cultivate the soil in this friend. We had more than a few God inspired words between us that HE brought up. Wasn't me. I think part of my mission was to just give him food for thought. Right on time for God's schedule.
We get back and my Brother's done a LOT in a short period of time. This new found friend had to go so it was just us. Some parts failed that we hadn't counted on but obviously not God. He provided exactly what was needed in the exact amount on hand. Right on time to His schedule.
We may not see it, but when the Spirit decides to show us, pay attention because there's good reason to. There's always someone who needs to hear of the fingerprints of God in the lives of others...and they want to see it in their own lives as well....it's called hope.
God's not a God of confusion. He's always on time with His work in each Believer. He's always on time in the work of revealing Himself to those who have not yet come to faith in Christ Jesus for salvation. We read in the New Testament of making the most of our time. In our world today we are bombarded with things and events to consume our time. To keep us from being fruitful in Christ Jesus. To keep us distracted. To keep us from resting at the feet of Jesus.
Stop, pray, ask. You may need to see some hope in your life. Hope that you're on the right track with your life. Ask God to show you.
We have a God who's got our best in mind all the time. We may not understand the pain that we go through to get to that point but as long as our eyes and hearts are set on our walk with Jesus, to make it the best efforts we can to live as He's called us to live...we always have hope.
Reading still in Jeremiah this morning...we see Jeremiah recording the words of the Lord Jesus...that which He has purposed He has done and will do. No one can thwart the plans of God for those who are His. While we may not see it...it changes nothing. The world's GOING to try to get us to forget the great things that God's done in us and through us.
Satan cannot 'unsave' people but he CAN try to minimize our reliance on Jesus. He CAN try to get us to be as overwhelmed as Peter who took his eyes off of Jesus and began to sink in the water. He CAN bring things into our lives even to 'enjoy' that take up our time, and keep us FROM the life that God intended for us.
Asking to be shown isn't a sin. Asking is healthy. We get more thankful when we see the reminders of reasons to be thankful. We have less anxiety when we see the assurances from Jesus that He's got this in our lives. We get more grateful and want to do more for Him when assured.
Your challenge today is to ask. Ask if there's things that have clouded your spiritual vision that need taken away. Ask Him to show you some of His activity in your life. You won't see all of it but you will be shown what you need to see in this moment of time.
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