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Listen to this devotional: |
Listen while you read: "Are You Coming To Jesus Tonight"1 (Lyrics) |
In my garden, there are several beds of perennials. Each bed has a different name in order to identify it when I am describing a location to my husband. Apart from the obvious, like the Iris Bed and the Hosta Garden, there are the Serendipity Garden, the Garden of White Light, and Cherry Lane.
One of my favourite spots is the Butterfly Garden, which lies on one side of the pergola. The pergola, an open wooden structure covered with vines, is named Tuvayesva, a Hopi name that means "Butterfly Resting". I like butterflies, not just because they are beautiful, but because they are deaf and I am hearing impaired. I can identify with the way they flit from one spot to another, never staying too long in one place. Sipping nectar from one beautiful bloom then another, they are free to fly and roam to the next bed, rarely resting, but always busy, enjoying the sunshine.
My husband once wrote a song called Complications about a friend who needed encouragement to free herself from a toxic relationship. Stuck, she just needed to take that first step in order to escape. Then, she could spread her wings, broaden her horizon, and fly into a better future as a changed person.
- (Chorus)
Like a butterfly break free;
I know you can so easily.
Soar to heights as yet unknown, my friend,
And make a life to call your own.
In the Old Testament, a man named Jabez asked God to bless him and enlarge his territory (1 Chronicles 4:10). He knew that there was more to life. He wanted to broaden his horizon. Jabez wanted to fly! God granted his request.
Christians are like that butterfly, breaking free of our old life and metamorphosing into a creature of beauty. It may be a struggle, but it is worth it. We were meant to live the abundant life that God planned for us since the beginning of time. He makes each one of us unique, giving us different backgrounds, and equipping us with gifts and abilities for doing His will.
Jeremiah 1:5a – Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart. (NIV)
John 3:3b – No one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again. (NIV)
2 Corinthians 5:17 – Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! (NIV)
If you haven't made this decision, I encourage you to take a step of faith today. When we ask God to forgive our sins and take over our life — just a few simple words from the heart — we are born again. God's Spirit gives us a completely new life, and like a butterfly, we will soar to heights unknown.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, please forgive my sins. You sacrificed Your life on the cross so that I might live for You and with You forever. You created me on purpose; You do not make mistakes. Make me new and clean, Lord, and let me break free like a butterfly. Amen.
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Loved it.
A great word of encouragement, JJ.
Such beautiful imagery!
Thank you
Beautiful! I really enjoyed your words. I love butterflies too!
(B.C.)
Your garden sounds like a wonderful place.
I live in an apartment, and plants don’t seem to do well here, so I enjoy other people’s gardens.
God bless you.
Greetings,
Thank you for this morning’s devotional. I enjoyed it and appreciated how you compared a butterfly’s life with ours and yes, we are each unique.
Blessings,
(B.C.)
A beautiful devotional. Thank you.
It is not my intention to be critical, however, I have read that butterflies were thought to be deaf until 1912 when scientists first discovered ears on it’s wings. Perhaps it is just a particular species of butterflies, but some do have them, nevertheless, and can detect high and low pitch sounds.
Perhaps worthy of a follow up devotional.. on hearing impaired as opposed to completely deaf?
Thanks again for this one.
Amen J.J. Well said.
Blessings.
Dear JJ,
Thanks again.
Keep writing for Jesus’ sake.
Dear JJ, I can almost picture your beautiful garden! Thank you for the devotional “Like A Butterfly”. I am so thankful after God saves us. His desire then is to conform us to the image of Christ. God bless.
Thanks for the devotional and especially the verses your husband wrote.
I have a friend for whom that verse fits perfectly.
I pray she will like a butterfly break free and make a life for herself.
God bless you.
A very inspiring yet openly challenging devotional. Bless you and keep flying high like our lovely example, the butterfly, who may be deaf like us, but not deaf to the things of the Spirit.