Consider the Lilies

"And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.
The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.
Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?
And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?
If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?
Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?
And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you."

~Luke 12:2-31

 This is a passage that speaks volumes. It boasts of the Lord's physical provision which has been all too evident to me in these past three tough weeks. It exemplifies the nurturing and care of the Lord toward His creation, and how much more He cares for us. It specifies the importance and duty of humble obedience required of His children, and it ends with a promise that He will provide for our physical needs as we seek His face.

What touches me about this passage is simple, yet profound in my mind today. Consider the lilies.

Noah Webster defines "Consider" in his 1828 dictionary as such:

"To fix the mind on, with a view to a careful examination; to think on with care; to ponder; to study; to meditate on."

The Lord here, in making His example of provision, asks us to fix our mind on the lilies. To study them, to meditate on them, to ponder them, to carefully examine them, and to think on them with care.  Not just to 'see' the lilies in our mind's eye, but to really see them. As if to say, "Look at the lilies of the field! Examine with great care and tenderness the simple beauty of the wildflowers! They don't spin or toil, yet I dress them in their yearly garments of every color and hue. This clay that wheat finds difficult to put forth root in, the wildflower flourishes and grows with no thought of the hindrance. Really, LOOK and SEE the lilies and how they grow!"

It's personal for me today. A personal call to just stop, be still, and consider the lilies. Take time to "stop and smell the roses" as they would say. How often we find ourselves caught up. Caught up in this world and in the troubles that it undoubtedly brings. Caught up in worry, fear, and weeping. Caught up in distractions in many forms. In an i-Age, how often do we find time to put down the screens and keypads and

Just.

Simply.

Be.

How often do we make time to just stand, be still, and breathe? We give many passing moments to the Lord, we commune in constancy (which is not bad at all) as we are doing and going, yet how often do we make time to simply be still and know Him? To consider His words and promises, and to meditate on them to the very crossed T's and dotted I's of the definition?

In this hurried and "microwave" era, I feel a tugging call. The call to simply stop, and be still.

Stop and watch the bluebirds, cardinals, and sparrows as they gather dried twigs and grasses for their nests. Stop and listen to the sound of the wind in the pines and hardwoods and the comforting sound of the distant rolling thunder as the Spring rain comes rolling in to bathe the world in a sleek new coat of a farmer's liquid gold.

To smell the sweet fragrance of the pure air that envelopes me, consumes me, after the rain has passed, and to see the tiny splashes of color, flowers dripping wet yet grateful as they turn their faces back towards the sun with renewed exuberance and joy.

To simply stop and take the time.... make the time.

The time to just dance in the rain, in the storms of life, and laugh, resting in the comfort and provision of the Father.

A preacher reminded me yesterday that we can't live tomorrow today, but we can ruin today by trying to live tomorrow today. We are prone to worry, this cloak of flesh is, but we must remember that nothing we will face today is bigger than God is. So here I am, committed now to staying when I want to hurry, to slowing when we're running behind. The Lord says in Psalm 46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God."

Consider the lilies. Consider the Words of the Lord. Examine them with great care and meditate on them, and simply be still.