By Twyla Vickers.
I am new to Grace Hills church but older as a member of God’s family. I always want to participate in my church ministry but usually do it through being a helper in a variety of ways ( children’s ministry, kitchen and food organizer, adult teacher, Stephen Minister) but not at writing devotionals. When no thoughts came to mind, it scared me and I could not get started on any thought. Then, when I woke up in the middle of the night recently, the thought that God put in my mind was a circumstance in my life a few years ago.
I was driving to work and thinking of the challenging day ahead of me. Those thoughts were generating anxiety and fear in me. God entered those circumstances of my life through a song I had learned as a child. The song was Jesus Loves Me. As I began to sing the words of the song to myself the peace and assurance that God was with me overflowed in my heart and changed my whole perspective of the day. I was calmed and felt prepared for the day. ( The words that spoke to me were “Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so”). During the following week, I shared the experience with my ladies’ Bible study group. I probably would not have thought of it again except for a follow-up experience a few years later.
We had moved from Maryland to Arkansas and were back visiting in Maryland. At church on Sunday, the womens’ Bible study group was gathered together, reminiscing over old times, when one of women said that what she remembered about me was sharing the experience of how the song “Jesus Loves Me” had calmed and focused me. She then related she had also found that song to be a help in her life when she faced challenging days.
God enters our lives in many ways but it is often through the small and ordinary characteristics of our everyday life that we experience His presence. I pray that we may open our hearts and souls to those times and then share them with others. That sharing may have a bigger impact on another’s life than we can imagine.
What scripture passages or song verses help you in times of tension/stress?
How have you shared them with others?
Twyla and her husband, Morris, have been members of Grace Hills for several months. Twyla serves Jesus with a humble heart and loves encouraging others.