Heavenly Smells, Earthly Blessings!

What do honeysuckle and butterflies have in common?

Today, they came together as Evidence of Answered Prayers.

After a steady, soaking rain that lasted all night, we decided to take our bike ride early today.  In the cool of the morning, before the possibility of hotter temperatures and more rain became reality.

We were well into our ride when You brought a particular woman to my heart, Lord — one who loves You dearly and is dearly loved — by You and many others, myself included.  So I began to pray for her, as I often do.

Suddenly, I noticed a long bank of honeysuckle bushes — about 100 feet — in full bloom.  As I passed by, I “drank” in their sweet fragrance… and I wondered:  “Is this what our prayers smell like to You, Abba?”

“I call to You, Lord, come quickly to me; hear me as I call to You.  May my prayer be set before You like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.”  (Psalm 141:1-2)

I remembered the many prayers my friend has lifted up to You, Lord, through the years.  Prayers full of longing and praises and the desires of her heart.  So many prayers… The sweetness of the honeysuckle reminded me of the long-ago Promised Land — a land of milk and honey.  A land of Promise and Plenty.  A gift from You, Lord.  And in that moment, You spoke Your Word to me:

“I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten… You will have plenty to eat, until you are full, and you will praise the name of the Lord your God, who has worked wonders for you…”  (Joel 2:25a,26)

As quickly as this verse came to me, I was startled by movement at the road’s edge to my right.  A group of butterflies — there were seven! — burst into flight right next to my front bicycle tire!  They were so close I gasped, as they flew right in front of my body toward the other side of the road!

What was your message to me, Lord?  Or, rather, to my friend?  Because this was all for her, wasn’t it?

Seven — the number of completion… perfection.  After so many prayers, lifted up to You for so many years, the season of waiting is Complete.  The time is NOW.  The time for Answered Prayers.  The time for Life Changing Transformations.  The time for the Promised Land to become the Provided Land.

Step by faith into the waters… and cross over.

As You so often love to do, in Your Ephesians 3:20 way, You made sure that during the rest of my ride I would see honeysuckle and butterflies everywhere!  I have been on that same route many times before, and I have never seen (or smelled) so much Asus G75VX-T4153H AC Adapter honeysuckle!!!  Did I just not have eyes to see what has been there all along?  Or did You put it there just today, Lord, so I would hear Your message?!  Will it still be there tomorrow…?

I got back home and sat at my computer to journal these notes… and what did I see?  My normal screen saver had defaulted to a slide show of photos saved on my computer. Of the thousands of photos stored there, what appeared were photos I had taken five years ago.  Photo after photo of honeysuckle bushes… in full bloom.

!!!

I hear You, Lord.  I know my friend will, too.

The time is NOW.  The time for Answered Prayers.  The time for Life Changing Transformations.  The time for the Promised Land to become the Provided Land.

Step by faith into the waters… and cross over.

Joyfully awestruck,

Abba’s Girl

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