Beautiful in Its Time
When we need to decompress from the stress of life, my husband and I like to take a drive. We live within an hour of the mountains, so it doesn't take long to get somewhere with a wide view, and that helps us gain perspective.
We need to see something beautiful to counter the effects of chaos.
Over the past five years, I've re-discovered the importance, the NECESSITY of beauty in our lives. My soul needs beauty, and I firmly believe beauty is a connection to the character of God. God is the author of beauty, and He inhabits eternity (Isaiah 57:15): He not only exists in the past, the present, and the future simultaneously; He also inhabits every space in our world and every other universe simultaneously. He Himself is beautiful (Psalm 27:4) and everything that is beautiful is a characteristic lended by Him.
I feel closer to the God of eternity when I'm surrounded by beauty. Going for a drive in the mountains gives me an uninterrupted view; however, there are other ways to multiply God's gift of beauty. In my home, there are simple objects that make my soul happy, intentionally placed so I can be reminded of hope and comfort. Colors, shapes, ideas, living plants, lights, photo memories, and favorite verses adorn the walls and tables.
Another way I am intentional with feeding my soul with beauty is by looking for it in daily life, pointing it out to others, and giving God the glory (it all comes from Him!). When one of my flute students plays a passage well, it gets a mention of praise. I marvel at birds that come to the feeder by my back porch. I share a verse from my morning devotions that gave me another peek at God's character. I notice unique architecture, flowers by the road, a well-put together outfit on a friend, an amazing sunset, a well-presented meal, a design element, an act of mercy on someone's part.
You are also a work of beauty, uniquely designed by God for a purpose only you can fulfill in a particular way! I see you, and think of you as I write. Your name comes to mind even now as I observe the beautiful work God is doing in you, and His magnificent work of grace. I pray that you will be filled with the joy of His presence as evidenced through the beauty He has placed in your path. He did that for YOU!
He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.
~Ecclesiastes 3:11
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©2022 Julianne Knapp. First published 9.6.22
We need to see something beautiful to counter the effects of chaos.
Over the past five years, I've re-discovered the importance, the NECESSITY of beauty in our lives. My soul needs beauty, and I firmly believe beauty is a connection to the character of God. God is the author of beauty, and He inhabits eternity (Isaiah 57:15): He not only exists in the past, the present, and the future simultaneously; He also inhabits every space in our world and every other universe simultaneously. He Himself is beautiful (Psalm 27:4) and everything that is beautiful is a characteristic lended by Him.
I feel closer to the God of eternity when I'm surrounded by beauty. Going for a drive in the mountains gives me an uninterrupted view; however, there are other ways to multiply God's gift of beauty. In my home, there are simple objects that make my soul happy, intentionally placed so I can be reminded of hope and comfort. Colors, shapes, ideas, living plants, lights, photo memories, and favorite verses adorn the walls and tables.
Another way I am intentional with feeding my soul with beauty is by looking for it in daily life, pointing it out to others, and giving God the glory (it all comes from Him!). When one of my flute students plays a passage well, it gets a mention of praise. I marvel at birds that come to the feeder by my back porch. I share a verse from my morning devotions that gave me another peek at God's character. I notice unique architecture, flowers by the road, a well-put together outfit on a friend, an amazing sunset, a well-presented meal, a design element, an act of mercy on someone's part.
You are also a work of beauty, uniquely designed by God for a purpose only you can fulfill in a particular way! I see you, and think of you as I write. Your name comes to mind even now as I observe the beautiful work God is doing in you, and His magnificent work of grace. I pray that you will be filled with the joy of His presence as evidenced through the beauty He has placed in your path. He did that for YOU!
He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.
~Ecclesiastes 3:11
Subscribe to free weekly articles in your inbox HERE; your information will never be shared. :-)
©2022 Julianne Knapp. First published 9.6.22