I woke up this morning with snatches of this old hymn playing in my mind. I haven’t heard it in years yet it was right there speaking to my heart. There are some mornings when I feel especially thankful for God and I feel His Presence so keenly. Thankfulness. Thankfulness opens our eyes and our hearts to see anew that everything we see is from God; to really see everything. How can we not be thankful for sunshine, for rain, for food, for seasons that teach so much, for love of family and friends, for animals we love, for songwriters!

Genesis 12 tells about Abram’s call from God to leave his country and people to a land God would show him so that through Abram all peoples on earth would be blessed. That’s you and me. Abram had a very close walk with God his whole life. He wasn’t perfect but he obeyed. He even needed to travel into Egypt because of a severe famine in the land God led him to. He had his wife Sarai lie and say she was his sister because she was so beautiful and he didn’t want to be killed so Pharaoh could have her. Yet, God worked through all of that. He was there with Abram.

That’s what I long for…a closer walk with God with my eyes opened to Him in my life. This morning reading the devotional Jesus Calling, I found a verse that spoke so eloquently of what I felt this morning with God. Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life. Psalm 143:8. From Hearing God You have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Colossians 3:9-10.

Renewed is such an apt word. In giving thanks to God for all that I see, my heart is lifted up and in Him worries, stains of sin are washed away. Just as the rain washes away the pollution and cleans the air, so God’s love washes away the pollution of our souls and cleans our hearts so we can see Him and know joy.

I asked Him, how can I be more aware of You throughout this day? His answer…I am here with you. I am the whisper in your heart, the warmth of love enveloping you. I am the song of love you sing. I am in the quiet contemplation and in your longing for Me. I am in every prayer of thanks, in every prayer for help. I am here.

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7.

You and I have our own walk that is our life. He’s there whether we acknowledge Him or not because He is faithful and His love is for keeps. There’s a movie I love called Knight and Day with Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz. Tom’s character tells Cameron’s character that she is in danger…with me…safe; without me…not safe! With me/without me! That’s how I feel when I am with God. Safe. Renewed. Made new. I pray that for you.