Luke 12:27-32 (NKJV), Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith?
“And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.
“Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
I keep thinking about all the beautiful mountain flowers I saw while I was in the Rocky Mountains last month and how I was drawn to gaze upon them with wonder. Walking up a trail (at around 10,000 feet) with my much younger friend who seemed hell bent on getting to this rock formation to explore; I kept slowing him down with all my oohs and ahhs. He went ahead and I “considered the lilies.” Maybe it is old age and I’ve just learned to appreciate the beauty around me. Or maybe it was the altitude and I was bent over just trying to breathe. Whatever the case, my gazing helps me to bask in the wonder of God’s creation and thank Him for it. This gazing brings an inner smile that comes from centering myself in God and His magnificent creation.
For The Healing Path alumni that might be reading this I guess you could say I was practicing “how to be” rather than “how to do.” I was with unveiled face beholding the glory of the Lord and being inwardly transformed by it.
Now what do you think would be the response of most men if I told them to go to the mountains to “consider the lilies?” If it were in Colorado they’d probably think I had been smoking some of the local legal pot. But, this guy who works in construction, actually he is a carpenter told me to do this. And he is telling me to do this so that I won’t worry! And the funny thing is that when I do it most of my worry, stress and anxiety kind of go away.
As I walked back down that trail (obviously I never made it to the rock formation), I heard God, my Father, whisper to me, “I’ll take care of you.” Honestly, that might be the nugget that will carry me through the rest of my life.
Guys don’t laugh, but it might be time to plan a “Consider the Lily” day. You have a Father who loves you and wants to speak His peace and comfort into you.
Hi David,
I had to chuckle when I read your blog post about considering the lilies. I can relate! I was recently hiking at Mt Lassen, with a friend 10 years younger. I did make it to the destination of our hike, which was a shorter one , only couple of hours and not the big climb to the summit. We hiked down to the geothermal area with all the steam coming up etc. On the way back up we took time to just stop and gaze at the quite remarkable beauty around us. I have hiked this area about 5 times over the years, but this was the first time I took more time to just stop and gaze at the beauty. HIking at Lassen, you are surrounded by beauty everywhere you walk, so in one way that is enjoying the beauty of creation. However, it is easy to miss the deeper communion for the soul with God in His creation unless you actually stop and intentionally take it all in….. being still and standing in awe and wonder. That was a lesson I felt He was underlining for me in this season of life, so it was another affirmation to my heart in reading your blog post. I’m asking the Lord to remind me from time to time each day to stop and savor the beauty around me,,,,,, whether in people, a favorite tree blowing in the wind , a rain drops, or the smell of a rose. I’ll now call those my ” consider the lilies” moments . Perhaps even more precious are the words Abba speaks, as He did to you, words that strengthen and encourage our hearts as we journey on our healing path. Thanks so much for your thoughts which have such practical application value for real life.