Devotions By Jan

Category Archives: Bird Images


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The Nightingale

Scripture for Today: Psalm 42:8 “By day the Lord directs His love, at night His song is with me – a prayer to the God of my life.”

The nightingale is not much to look at being a plain and uninteresting brown.  He is shy and likes to hide in dense thickets and bushes.  But he has been the subject of songs, fairy tales, operas, books and poetry over the centuries.  His song is exceptional for its variety, range and power.  While the female is strangely quiet, the male regales his listeners with whistles, trills and gurgles.  Although he sings during the day, his song is especially noticeable at night without any other noises to distract.

Today’s verse describes another song that occurs during the night.  This song can be just as beautiful and there is only an audience of One.  This song is a prayer of gratitude and praise to the Lord.  Without audible notes, it rises up within our souls to be heard by our Creator.  Because He loves us, He listens intently to our impromptu concert, and we feel His pleasure.  There are no other noises or distractions in those dark quiet hours.

All day long I feel His love directed towards me.  I am aware of His presence throughout the day.  But in the mundane tasks, the hurried schedule and all the distractions, I forget to respond with praise.  But at night, when the house is finally quiet I can turn my thoughts to Him.  Instead of being frustrated at being awake, I can use those moments to compose a song only He will hear.  Regardless of words or notes, He is honored by the melody of praise in my heart.

Thank you Lord, for putting a song in my heart tonight!


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Eagle Wings

Scripture for Today: Proverbs 23:5 “Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle.”

How amazing to see an eagle in flight!  Their wings are impressive, often measuring six and seven feet across.  They can climb ten thousand feet up into the air and soar for hours.  This amazing “King of Birds” can cruise at forty miles per hour.  The eagle wing, being concave on its underside and convex on its outerside, is created to maximize the wind passing over it thereby giving it lift.

Today’s verse describes how riches often up and fly away.  We are better off to cast but a glance at them rather than to focus all our attention on riches.  We are told not to wear ourselves out to get rich (verse 4).  Those riches somehow sprout wings and fly right out of the wallet.  I am always amazed to hear stories of lottery winners who end up bankrupt!  But some part of me can understand.  I just broke a twenty dollar bill for a small purchase and before I realized it, it was gone.  How does that happen?  Where does it go?  A glance is all I get as money seems to disappear almost as quickly as it appears!

Riches are often a blessing coming directly from God’s hand.  The problem comes when I place my confidence in my own resources rather than in Him.  Riches are uncertain (I Timothy 6:17) but the Lord is worthy of my trust.  He wants me in a place of dependency on Him.  As it turns out, knowing and loving Him is the best kind of riches!

Help me Lord, to give riches but a glance and instead fix my eyes on You.

 


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Snowy Owl

Scripture for Today: James 3:17 “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure, then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.”

This pure white plumage on the Snowy Owl is remarkable!  We do not see them too often as they breed on the Artic tundra and only migrate south in search of lemmings.  They are unlike other owls in that they hunt and are active both day and night.  But it is their snow white appearance that makes them stand out!  The females never become completely white, but the males become progressively whiter as they age.

The owl has long been associated with wisdom in Greek and Roman mythology and in Aesop’s Fables.  Perhaps it is because owls are always asking questions!  Today’s verse lists several descriptions of wisdom, beginning with the word, “pure.”  Wisdom is first of all pure.  That makes sense as the beginning of wisdom comes from the fear of the Lord and following His precepts (Ps. 111:10).  The one who is wise is the one who is careful to follow God’s way.  That purity demonstrates itself in the list of characteristics that follow.

Funny, I do not usually link the words, “wise” and “pure” together.  Like so many, I think of the wise as educated, successful, well-respected, well-read and continually learning.  But fearing the Lord and the purity that comes from obeying Him is the “wisdom that comes from heaven.”  It may not be the wisdom widely recognized by the world, but who am I trying to please?  It is not what I know but Who I know that gives me the possibility of living wisely.  He is the source of true wisdom and a life well-lived.

Lord, thank you for giving me wisdom to live life Your way.


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The White Ibis

Scripture for Today: Job 38:36 “Who gives the ibis wisdom or gives the rooster understanding?”

Perhaps the rooster is given understanding to know when to crow.  I often wish he was not so understanding!  But how is the ibis wise?  It could be because he knows to fly in the energy-conserving V formation.  Maybe he is wise because he uses his long beak to feel for and capture his prey without even seeing it.  I like to think he is wise because he is mostly monogamous!  Of course, these behaviors are instinctive but they show more wisdom and understanding than some humans demonstrate!

Today’s verse reminds us that it is the Lord who gives wisdom and understanding.  It is given, not earned.  He is the Source and gives freely to all who ask in faith (James 1:5-6).  He not only gives but gives generously and without reproach.  Without asking Him, we are not wise.  We may think we know the best solution to our predicament.  But with His wisdom there is always the potential for something better.  That is because there are consequences we do not anticipate.  He knows the future.  He can see the outcome.  Every decision made without His wisdom to guide and direct is suspect.

I am not an instinctive creature.  God created me with the ability to ponder, weigh options and reflect on possible outcomes.  But sometimes, these God-given abilities make me an independent thinker.  I think I can make decisions just fine without Him.  And sometimes things work out.  But before long, the Lord will humble me to the point where I see my need to ask Him.  How much better to recognize my limits and ask Him in the beginning of that decision-making process!

Lord, thank you for the gift of Your wisdom every day for every decision.


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The Flamingo

Scripture for Today: Hebrews 5:14 “But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.”

The brilliant pink and orange of the flamingos never fail to fascinate me.  This social bird with long legs and long curvy neck looks so stately and graceful.  But it is their color that makes them stand out.  As newborns, they are a bland white and grey.  But because of their shrimp and algae diet high in carotenoids, they turn this beautiful vibrant pinkish orange.  I guess the saying is true then, “You are what you eat!”

Today’s verse refers to a diet of “meat” meaning the more profound truths of Scripture.  The one who has a steady diet of meat is the one who is trained in righteousness (verse 12) and can distinguish good from evil.  It is a process over time and constant use.  Meat is not just knowledge or citing verses by memory.  Meat and spiritual maturity come from a constant use of God’s Word in daily life.  Over time the meat-eater will be able to teach and mentor others (verse 12).

It is not difficult to see who are mature in their walk with the Lord.  A long steady diet of God’s Word slowly changes believers, giving them wisdom to choose the right path.  Our spiritual maturity is not measured in years but in consecrated time in His Word and in intentional application.  Obeying God’s Word and hiding it my heart slowly changes me from the inside out.  If I am what I eat, then what color am I?  Am I still white and grey, pale pink or the most brilliant pinkish orange?

Lord, keep me motivated to read and apply Your Word today!