Editor’s Note: For our Ordinary Time Devotional series, you will be hearing entirely from young authors. They will be sharing their perspectives on the theme, “God is in the streets.” Enjoy reading how the next generation of emerging GCI leaders experiences God outside the walls of the Sunday church gathering.
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to your span of life? And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. Matthew 6:25-29
I experience God in my everyday life by practicing the 5 senses grounding technique. This is done by taking a moment to stop and pinpoint what you can see, touch, hear, smell, and taste.
I see someone holding their child’s hand as they walk; this small example of tenderness is just like that which God has for me and which I am capable of having for others. I feel the texture of a leaf that is beside me; just as God intricately designed this leaf, even more so has he intricately created me. I smell the moisture in the air of a rain shower to come; the newness of rain is a reminder of the newness that God has offered us. I hear the birds chirping to each other; just as God has provided for them, he has done this even more so for us. Last, I taste a cool glass of iced coffee and am reminded of the times I’ve shared meaningful conversations while drinking coffee with my friends. Staying tuned to these little joys is so important because God’s love for his creation is ever present. We just need to take the time to see it.
Prayer:
Thank you, God, that we can be reminded of your goodness in our day-to-day lives. Thank you that your love grounds us. Guide us as we further our wonderment at who you are, what you’ve done, and what you are still doing. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
By Kelly Meade Rakestraw, GCI Coach
Tallahassee, FL, US
Great article, Kel. Thanks for sharing God’s love through your senses. Reminds me of sitting still, praying for God’s fingerprints to appear and paying attention to my surroundings. Proud of you🤗.
Love,
Mom
Kelly, thanks for sharing your heart with us. Your message touched me & reminded me to slow down & experience God’s amazing presence.
Love these verses in Matthew and really enjoyed your grounding techniques! I love nature & see so much around me that points me to our Father Creator! Really enjoyed this devotional, thank you!
Thanks for reminding us to “see” God in creation and in every aspect, circumstance and encounter in our lives.
Kelly, I can’t tell you how happy and proud I am to know that that cute, little pre-teen in our church is now writing devotionals and coaching very mature GCI leaders!!! Thank you for your devotion to the ministry of Jesus Christ and GCI! And thank you for a thoughtful devotional this month!
Thanks Kelly for reminding us to take the time to sense the present of God in the creation all around us. Those of us who live in the big cities with the concrete buildings and busy and noisy streets miss this touch. David while tending to the sheep saw the handiwork of our Creator in the sky each night. Ps 19:1-3