Spirit Lifting: A Surprise Twist

This devotion reminds us that God’s wondrous creation holds inspiring surprises for us if we remain open to them.

A Mayapple plant; credit: Shutterstock

“God has a surprise for you.”—Luke 1:30 (MSG)

Along the wooded path, I stopped by a funny plant with two giant, droopy leaves. It looked almost like a green umbrella. I asked my biologist brother about it. He told me it was called a mayapple. “Take a peek under the leaves,” he said.

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I dropped to my knees, rested my head on the moist soil and twisted my neck to gaze up. There beneath the leaves, a single snow-white flower stared back at me. What a beauty in hiding! And I had almost missed it.

Without an awkward position and a twist, I would have continued along the path, never knowing it existed. What else have I missed—below, above or behind something else? Today I’m going to stop and twist to find what other surprises God may have for me.

God, help me discover your handiwork, not only in obvious places but also in hidden ones. Amen.

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