You are Reflection of God’s Glory? - Girlfriends in God

August 8, 2016
You Are Reflection of God’s Glory?
Sharon Jaynes

Today’s Truth

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands (Psalm 19:1 NIV).

Friend to Friend

My friends Gwen, Lisa, and Bill joined Steve and I for a shrimp boil at my home. We spread out the steamed shrimp and then made a glorious mess as we shucked and ate one tasty morsel after another.

After dinner, Gwen and I challenged Bill and Lisa to a paddleboat race across the lake. “Oh, we’ll cream you guys,” Bill boasted as he and his paddling partner accepted the challenge. He puffed up, knowing that victory was eminent. He was pumped.

I pointed Bill to one of our two vessels. “Here, you take this one.”

“Fine with me,” he said, self-assured.

My husband, with a knowing smile, signaled for the race to begin. Off we went. Bill and Lisa paddled furiously and pulled out ahead. While Bill had his eye on the finish line across the lake, I turned around in my seat and lowered our secret weapon. Unbeknownst to Bill, our boat had a silent, hidden, battery-powered bass motor. I dropped the motor, flipped the switch, and in no time we passed our competitors and left them in our tiny wake. While Bill and Lisa paddled frantically like milkmaids churning butter, Gwen and I sliced through the water like a hot knife through cream.

Bill was confused. We were tickled.

Of course, Gwen and I won the race. We made it to the opposite shore in half the time of our confused competition. As we turned the boat around and headed back toward a befuddled Bill, I called out. “Oh, I forgot to mention that our boat has a battery powered motor!”

He headed right toward us and splashed us good fashion.

Gwen and I paddled back to home base, but Bill and Lisa stayed in the middle of the lake as the sun began to sink and streak the evening sky with the handiwork of God. Orange, magenta and red filled the heavenly expanse. Geese conversed. Crickets chirped. Cicadas sang. Deep-throated frogs gave bass notes to natures melody. The moon rose and reflected its face in the water as the mass of summer musicians celebrated the season. And right smack dab in the middle of the lake sat two of God’s children awe struck. Captivated. And you know what? I was captivated by watching their response to God’s glory.

Isn’t that the way of glory? As we see others living and moving and having their being in Jesus, we want it, too. As we sense their sacred in-loveness, we long for the same passionate intimacy with God in our own lives.

Don’t be surprised if your moments of sudden glory cause others to tug on your shirtsleeve with hungry eyes and want to know more. Tell them! Oh how I pray that you will tell them! Tell them of the moments of sudden glory that brim in a woman’s heart that lives and moves and has her being in Christ. Tell them of glory moments strewn about by God’s willing hand for eyes to see, ears to hear, hearts to embrace. What an amazing truth: God uses me and you to open hungry eyes to recognize His presence all around—to glorify Him—to make His presence known.

This summer, look for the moments. Expect the moments. Savor the moments.

Let’s Pray

Heavenly Father, help me to be a reflection of Your glory today. Help me to be good salt that makes others thirsty to know You, to want You, to crave more of You. Open my eyes to see You in all creation today. I am sleuthing for Your fingerprints on the pages of this day.

In Jesus’ Name,

Amen.

Now It’s Your Turn

Read Psalm 104 and note all the ways God makes His glory known through creation. It is a lengthy Psalm. You might want to spread it out over two days.

As you walk by a mirror or window today, look at your face. (Weird, I know.) What does your face say to the world? Are you a reflection of God’s goodness in your life? Are you smiling? Frowning? Looking a bit grumpy? Need to exercise those smile muscles?

Want to join me by intentionally smiling today? If so, click over to my Facebook page and say, “I’m smiling!”

More from the Girlfriends

Do you long for something more in your relationship with God? Do you have a “glory ache”—a hunger to experience God’s presence on a daily basis? The good new is that God wants that even more than you do. Right smack dab in the spin of the laundry and the sizzle of the bacon—as you live and move and have your being in Him. This summer, take some time to “be still and know”—to hear His still small voice—to dust for His fingerprints on the pages of your everyday life. My book, A Sudden Glory: God’s Lavish Response to Your Ache for Something More will show you how. It also includes a study guide and free online Bible study videos. And while you’re on my website, check out the Praying Wives app for Apple devices.