God’s Articulate Presence

Sharon JaynesA Sudden Glory, Living Fully 43 Comments

I think one of the greatest inventions of the twentieth century was the Post-It Note. First there was yellow. Then came fuchsia, turquoise, buttercup, and magenta. From full-page mega notes to tiny little strips, sticky notes have saved me from embarrassment, kept me organized, and helped me memorize. Mostly, they have served as visual reminders of information, events, and appointments not to forget.

But visual reminder of things not to forget didn’t begin with Post-It Notes. They began with God, Himself. All through life God places Post-It Notes on our days to remind us of Him. Just today, I jotted down a few Post-It Notes God placed throughout my day.

  • The sunrise with swirls of mist rising from the lake behind my home
  • A vibrant red male cardinal and his demure wife sharing the bird feeder
  • Boisterous Canadian geese flying in V-formation across the sky
  • Tulip bulbs peeping through the ground
  • The weeping willow praising God in the breeze
  • A monarch butterfly perched on the windowsill
  • Midday sunlight dancing on the water
  • A baby’s cry
  • A little girl’s giggle
  • Orange, magenta and red streaks across the sky as the sun bid goodnight
  • A sliver of white in the inky sky with a smattering of twinkles all around
  • My husband’s hand reaching for me in the night

Each and every one of these sightings were God’s reminders to me that He has infused my life with His presence. Through His creation, God longs for us to see and discover—observe and remember—His creative beauty, His enduring grace, His fathomless mercy, and His articulate presence.

A. W. Tozer once said, “He is by nature continuously articulate. He fills the world with His speaking voice.” I believe His voice is heard nowhere more clearly than through His Word and His creation.

In the Bible, Paul wrote to the Romans, “For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. (Romans 1:20 NLT). 

Charles Spurgeon, a famous English preacher from the 1800s once said, “God seems to talk to me in every primrose and daisy and smile at me from every star, and whisper to me in every breath of morning air and call aloud to me in every storm.”

That’s the way I want to live, looking for God’s fingerprints and listening to His gentle whisper throughout my day. I think you do, too.

If we do not hear from God today, if we do not see His fingerprints through creation, we are without excuse. His is speaking to us all day long with holy post-it notes, and it seems to me His voice is sweetest in Spring. Happy May!

Look for God’s fingerprints throughout your day and then pause and thank Him for speaking to you.

Dear Lord, our Creator, I am in awe of Your creation today. Help me never to take You or Your handiwork for granted. I pray I will always be amazed at the sunrise and the sunset and all that falls in-between. I love You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Consider getting a pad of Post-It Notes and jot down visual reminders of God that grab your attention. Write your observations on the notes and post them around your home.

If you have children, consider giving them a pack of Post-It Notes and have them jot down things that remind them of God throughout their day. Before bedtime, share your Post-It Notes as a family.

Think about your last week and note how you saw God in creation. Leave a comment and let’s share.

A Sudden Glory Sharon Jaynes

Digging Deeper

Want to learn more about how to experience God’s presence right smack dab in the middle of your busy day? If so, then A Sudden Glory: God’s Lavish Response to Your Ache for Something More is just or you. Discover how to experience moments of sudden glory when God makes His presence known. Learn how to open your eyes to see God in ways you never even imaged!

This book also includes a Bible Study Guide in the back.

 

 

 

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Comments 43

  1. Beautifully written. God’s signature and love for us is all around. Take a moment to stop, look, and meditate. His presence in nature proves to me the concept of prevenient grace. His “sermon” is in every flower, tree, stream, and living thing. Listen to His call and answer with a prayer of thanks.

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    2. Spring is the perfect time to realize the resurrection as bulbs become flowers and seedlings grow into young trees. Every day brings exciting beauty and growth.

  2. I live in Kansas and drove through the country up north to visit my best friend in Michigan. In those drive, I saw beautiful trees lined up the highway. It was just breathtaking. I admired the nature God has created for us.

  3. Wow! I began looking at the mountain near my house and speaking God’s word. Now, I’m looking deeper. Thank you, Sharon. And THANK YOU, JESUS!

  4. It’s been raining for a couple of days and we’re promised more for most of the week. God knows how much I love the sun. But when I looked at my front yard and noticed how green the grass is, I get it. God is painting His world beautifully. Thank you Jesus! No more complaining about the ☔️.
    ❤️ G

    1. We needed rain so badly in my state of NM. God sent some yesterday, today sleet and snow. Truly God’s handiwork to keep us safe this fire season.
      God is good and rain is wonderful! 😊

  5. God’s creation of music – if you can hear the songs birds melodies and harmonies at daybreak – you can’t help thanking God for music.

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  6. For daffodils and tulips in full bloom.
    For sunshine
    For a friend accompanying me to a painful medical procedure.
    For a double scoop of Baskin Robins maple walnut ice cream following the procedure.
    For friends following up and praying for me! Praise God!

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  7. There was joy in my heart and seeing God’s creation as I sat, one on one in my Sunday School class listening to a six year with special needs read out loud the lesson for the day from the children’s Bible. He’s a busy little boy and can be a challenge, and smart. God created him so that he can be loved and taught no matter what his disability is.

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  8. I notice God’s fingerprints all the time; the beautiful birds that have been coming to my bird feeders; the rain he sent us; the sunrises and sunsets, the beautiful clouds; my husband always reaching for me. I am truly blessed, and I love looking for God’s fingerprints every day.

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  9. I too experience God in nature and thank Him that I can see, hear, smell, feel, taste and touch the beauty of the world He created. I thank Him for the five senses He’s given us to recognize His glory in our world. Alleluia!!!

  10. Your message is very important and I need to heed it. It seems I’m always saying, I’ll appreciate all that is beautiful when I retire (the sooner the better). There’s no guarantee that I will live to that day. I need to learn to stop and smell the roses now. Thank you for reminding me.

  11. My husband and I were out for a drive on Saturday we seen a bigger bird perched on the wires and wondered what kind it was. I got out of the car to take a picture and the bird looked down at me. Many times the Lord has allowed me to see his love through nature and all He has created.

  12. Every morning when I wake up the first thing I pray is thank you God for this beautiful new day and the breath in my lungs, to be to see hear and for a strong mind and body, So many beautiful things to thank God for every day. Life is a miracle from God, let’s rejoice and be glad for the day.

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  13. I see God’s handiwork in the most breathtaking sunsets over the pasture near our home. I often take pictures of them. It is like the sky is on fire. I also am admiring some of the prettiest roses in my yard this year. I have taken time to “smell the roses”…and photograph them too. I have thanked God lots for the many strawberries I pick in our strawberry patches…no two are the same! I have admired our beautiful puppy and the perfect markings that she adorns. SO MANY STICKY NOTES…..the world would be covered in them. God is such an ARTIST, and I am so grateful He chose to share his masterpieces with us!🎨

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  14. I see God everyday in my garden, in my neighborhood and in my daily time with Him. I especially saw him last week as I went through breast cancer surgery with no pain and few limitations. His virtual post-it notes are everywhere!

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  15. Last summer my daughter and I made a 4000 mile cross-country road trip. We left from the Golden Gate and drove through 14 states, 2 countries(US & Canada), 7 national parks, all the way to Maryland. 11 days of endless memories. I was asked what was my favorite place. I said each one was better than the one before. We truly got to see God’s handiwork!!

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  16. Help me to be more aware of your daily presence as I see you God in all your creation and Beauty and not take these things for granted and grow in my relationship with you thank you for your abiding love may your love and light shine thru me

  17. God’s creation has always been a stamp to just how magnificent and awesome He is and how He has lavished on His people the many wonderful blessings!
    Sun rises and sunsets have always been a favorite of mine. Thank you Lord! ❤️

  18. Thank you for the reminder that my husband’s hand reaching for me in the night is a gift from God. Just last night I hollered at my husband for poking me in the stomach in the middle of the night. He was just reaching out for me, probably just to say, “I see you, I know you, are you okay, I’m here.” I took it the wrong way. Your devotion convicted me, so I just sent him an apology text.

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  19. Your list of post-it-notes of today envisioned so many of God’s gifts we are given each day. My minds eye could see them all. Each day brings something new brought to our awareness. I love being retired there are no more excuses NOT to stop and enjoy HIS richness amongst us. I’m not a picture taker for good reason, they usually never turn out the way I remember seeing it. I believe these moments God has meant His artwork just for me. 😉 For which I am so thankful for.
    Thank you Lord for everything.

  20. I feel GOD’s presence in nature. I love Saturday and Sunday mornings when I can lay in bed and watch the sun rise and listen to the birds chirp. The birds are my alarm clock and GOD is telling me I have another opportunity to serve and worship him. I love the rain storms. That is him washing the world clean. I teach Science to 6th graders and when we talk about the winds in hurricanes, it is GOD pruning the earth. Fall is my favorite season, and nothing is more beautiful than the pictures he creates with the colored leaved. I frequently break out into song!! My GOD is an awesome GOD!! He reigns from heaven above, with wisdom, power and love!! My GOD is an awesome GOD!! Hallelujah!!

  21. When I find a dime, I tell God I love him. Like the song that says a dime if you tell me that you love me. Ever since I started doing this, I keep finding dimes and just today I found another dime. Every time this happens, I feel an awesome connection with our Lord.. love you Jesus❤️

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  22. Living in New England, we are just now beginning to see signs of His creation peaking through the clouds and rain. Thank you for the reminder to never take His creation for granted.
    He is a truly the most amazing Creator!

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