Lean Into the Light

I really enjoy the outdoors. I don’t get enough time to enjoy the outdoors. I’ll admit, though, that I am the one impeding more enjoyment of the outdoors in my life. I know that one of the chief reasons I enjoy the outdoors is that God regularly speaks to me through what I see and experience in nature.

In preparing for a recent Sunday message to our congregation, I was once again reminded of God’s magnificent creation. I was going to be speaking about prayer and our need to let God lead in prayer. That is, God should be the One directing my prayer life. I need to yield to His direction. I need to move in His direction. That’s when I thought about flowers and plants.

If you have a plant or flowers in your windowsill, then you know that they will always bend and turn toward the strongest light available to them. Flowers and plants thrive as they avail themselves to sunlight. They need what it offers. Now, flowers and plants don’t have a choice. When the sun is available to them, they lean in its direction. You and I, however, have a choice. We can choose to let the light into our lives, or we can pull the shades, as it were. So, today, which are you doing? Are you letting the light in, or blocking it out? We need what God has to offer, but we have a choice to make each day as to whether we’ll lean in His direction.

Let me offer a few suggestions that can help us lean into the light God offers us in our life with Him. First, slow down. There’s no need to brag about how much you’re doing. Everybody is busy. Everyone has obligations. We have more opportunities to be involved with things than we have time to do them well. So, start by slowing down so that you can start paying attention to what God is saying (e.g., through His Word and prayer) and see what He is doing (1 Chronicles 16:10-12).

Second, wait. One thing you’ll notice about flowers and plants is that they grow. But I’ll bet you’ve never seen them actually grow. You just notice it one day. The pot is too small. The sill is getting crowded with leaves, stems, and vines. When the proper conditions are available, they grow. The same is true for you. God has given you all you need to grow. Don’t be in a hurry to get done with prayer and bible study. Don’t be in a rush to end a conversation. Try to steady yourself amidst the hustle and bustle of responsibilities and deadlines. God is speaking. God is working. God is moving. If you wait, you will see it and you will grow from it (Psalm 46:10; Isaiah 40:31).

Finally, have faith (Hebrews 11:6). Just as flowers and plants need what the sun has to offer, so we need what the Son has to offer. Bask in the radiance of His presence. Trust that He has what you need. You need Him more than you need your job, your paycheck, your reputation, your family, etc. You need all that God has to offer. Believe that by faith and lean into the Lord.

God plants each of us where we are that we might blossom in His presence. Go ahead, lean into His light.