A Bird’s Eye View

The following series of devotionals are taken from Dr. Tim Miller’s book, Seasons of Reflection. You can find out more about Tim’s ministry and order the book by visiting www.disciplethenations.com.One gorgeous afternoon during the fall, I sat in my climbing stand waiting for whitetail deer that were slowly feeding in my direction. Purple flowers edged the field creating a beautiful backdrop for the unfolding hunt. Flocks of birds were busily looking for an afternoon snack. Robins, Starlings, Finches, and Wrens made up the fine feathered feeding frenzy.

I was distracted from my hunt by a number of smaller birds feeding beneath my stand and I quietly whispered a prayer, “Father, it sure would be neat if one of those little birds would fly up here and land on me.” Much to my surprise, a few minutes later, something incredible happened. I was sitting with my recurve bow flat across my legs. An arrow was nocked and ready for the possible shot to come. All of a sudden, a little bird flies up and lands on my arrow shaft. He stays there for a few seconds and then lights on the left side of my bow and eventually lands on the right side of my bow. That little bird was all over me! I sat smirking to myself, “what will the guys think about this one?”

Better still, what was that little bird thinking? I figure the Lord had to be laughing at my response to the answered prayer. God answers our prayers. He is not sitting on
a throne in heaven waiting to strike us with a lightening bolt if we get out of line. He is a caring and loving Father and wants the best for all of us. Everything created responds to His commands - everything except man.

God gives man a free choice to either live for himself or live in obedience to God. He knows if we live for ourselves we will eventually self-destruct. Alcohol, infidelity, greed, workaholism, addictions of all kinds, and misery begin to take their toll. Without God in our lives, inner peace is only something we imagine. God has provided a way for our lives to have deeper meaning and purpose. He truly wants us to be fulfilled, completed, and satisfied. Many think God only wants to take - when the truth is – Jesus came to give. The solution to the complex problems in life is really quite simple. Learn a lesson from the birds –obey God.

Challenge: If the birds obey His commands, how much more should we? If he cares for the birds, he will surely care for you. Birds never get lost and they always have a home. They never worry.

Thoughts: Are you willing to surrender the “small things” to God? Everything is “small” compared to His power. Is there anything you are worried about today? The next time you see the beautiful flowers and hear the songs of God’s little birds, remember the following words of Jesus.

“Are not two sparrows sold for a cent and yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.” (Matthew 10:29)

“Look at the birds of the air, they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?” (Matthew 6:26)

Posted by Tim E. Miller