Encouragement for Today

July 18, 2024 Glimpses of His Love STACY J. LOWE Lee en español

“How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand!” Psalm 139:17-18a (NLT)

It had been a painfully long day at work. Due to the weather, my shoes got soaked as soon as I left the house, and having spent much of the day outside in the rain and mud, they were still just as wet late that night when I finally got home and took them off.

Seventeen hours in wet shoes is no fun.

After just a few hours of sleep, I dragged myself back downstairs, dreading yet another long day ahead. The shoes I had worn the day before would take another day or so to dry fully. But having no other good options for footwear, I resigned myself to going through yet another day with wet feet.

Except … my shoes were bone-dry.

While that may seem like a little thing, in that moment when I was completely drained — pushed both physically and mentally past the point of exhaustion — it meant so much.

Bleary-eyed, I slipped on the shoes, smiled and whispered, “Thank You, God,” grateful for this glimpse of His love.

While I’m thankful for that experience, I can’t help but wonder: How many times has God stepped into my world, but I was too caught up in everything else to stop and take notice? Probably far more than I will ever know on this side of heaven.

King David seemed to recognize this. When pondering God’s relationship with His creation, David wrote:

“How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand!” (Psalm 139:17-18a)

What a beautiful truth to consider! The God of the universe — Creator of the cosmos and everything in it — is not only aware of our existence but is actively thinking of you and me each moment of the day. And if His thoughts toward us are precious, good, and far too numerous to count, we shouldn’t be surprised when He chooses to show up in our ordinary, everyday moments to let us know He sees us and cares.

I, for one, don’t want to miss these close, personal moments with my Savior. Therefore, I am choosing to slow down today and approach the coming hours with the expectation that I will see God in my world.

That day, I saw His love through a pair of unexpectedly dry shoes. How will God show up today for you and me? I don’t know, but let’s pay attention and find out!

Father, thank You for stepping into my world to show me that You see me and You care. Thank You for the little moments that mean so much. Please help me not to miss those moments. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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FOR DEEPER STUDY

Psalm 33:18, “But the LORD watches over those who fear him, those who rely on his unfailing love” (NLT).

Luke 12:6-7, “What is the price of five sparrows—two copper coins? Yet God does not forget a single one of them. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows” (NLT).

God sees you. He knows everything about you — the good and the bad — and still He loves you. You matter immensely to Him.

What does it mean to you to be so intimately known by your Savior? To be the daily recipient of His loving care? We’d love for you to share about it in the comments.

© 2024 by Stacy J. Lowe. All rights reserved.