Tag: joy

The Treasures of the Wildflowers

On By Heather HensonIn Devotionals, Life's Lessons, Personal Reflections, Sharing from my JournalLeave a comment

The man walking toward me was speaking into a mobile phone. It was in the early days of mobile telephones and his private conversation—loudly and thus public—somehow didn’t belong on the footpath of my local shopping center!

My mind was transported back in time to the television show, Get Smart, first aired in the 1960s. Secret Agent, Maxwell Smart, used a phone built into his shiny black shoe (took it off first!). And how many times in those early years of mobiles did I feel silly for replying when someone nearby said, “Hello!” 🙂 

Am I the only one whose mind can become distracted, restless and even overwhelmed by the constant (and perhaps imagined) need to communicate and send or receive information? 

While it might be humbling to face the workings of my inner world (let alone admit it in public!), I know this: I need to, and am willing to be, transformed by the redemptive grace of God, the always very-present beloved Spirit of Jesus Christ who lives in me and is always with me. 

The battle is real and it’s a battle for control of our mind. 

The Bible has a lot to say about the renewing and transformation of one’s mind. For example, the apostle Paul wrote: “… Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” — Philippians 4:8 NLT

Psalm 46:10a (TPT) encourages me with these life-giving words: “Surrender your anxiety. Be still and realize that I am God.”

Last year I began a practice that hasn’t been easy for me since I acquired my first ‘smart’ phone.  While walking—for exercise or to go somewhere local—I began to resist the temptation to fill the time listening to an audiobook, music, or to phone someone. Where possible, now I leave my phone at home, or at least switch it to silent mode. And do I really need to know how many steps I’ve walked in a day… 🙂

And so I let myself just be. Present. In the moment.

I began to practice letting my mind be still—quieter, relaxed and gently observant. One day I laughed out loud at the sight of two rabbits trying to scare off a magpie which, I noticed, wasn’t the least bit impressed! 

At first, it felt like my mind was being stripped of something, and I admit that it didn’t feel comfortable at all. It felt boring! It felt like wasted time. 

I once heard it takes three weeks to create a new habit, so I remained optimistic! 

I’ve heard it’s healthy and restful to let my mind be, or become, uncluttered and mindful. 

I’ve heard that boredom is a positive thing, especially if I want my creativity to have space to develop, flourish and explore… 

Jesus has invited me, and you, to be open to hearing the whispers of His Spirit within the daily rhythms of life and to be free to explore life with Him, the great I Am, Lord of glory, Lord of heaven’s armies.

And so it was on that day in October 2024… 

Choosing to quietly enjoy my walk on a delightful blue-sky Spring day in Melbourne (as tempting as that audiobook was!), I noticed a beautiful flash of pink down on my right. 

There in the long, messy green grass I saw the most exquisite tiny pink flowers. I stopped to look—really look—and wonder at their beauty. 

Imagine with me that Jesus is inviting you and me to join Him. With His presence comes an atmosphere of pure love, peace, joy and the freedom to come just as we are to God.

With the eyes of my heart I see that Jesus is kneeling and looking at the flowers. He tenderly and gently holds one to the palm of His hand and it seems like I hear Him saying: 

“Life’s treasures are not always so visible. In fact, you may not discover them if you give way to the busy, insistent, driving and striving, often loud demands of the world. 

The beautiful colours in which I dressed these wildflowers speak joy and delight and the wonder of My glory into your life. You need not be anxious for your daily needs because My Father wants to be The One who lovingly and abundantly provides for you in all sorts of creative ways.

Your human nature might want everything to be contained, controlled, orderly and neat. But it’s so often in the ‘messiness’ and trials of life that you’re free to grow and thrive and explore, and be and become who I have created you to be. 

Beloved, let Me help you to be content where you’ve been planted in life! 

The flowers quietly reflect courage, boldness, tenacity and resilience. They don’t shout at you to stop and notice them, nor do they complain about their lot in life. They simply are. 

My beloved, behold the moments! It is within those moments that I will reveal My heart to you. Don’t fall into the trap of waiting for that elusive moment when life will be tidy, manicured and free of mess… 

Trust that it’s good and right and safe to be still and walk with Me—the one step at a time. I will help you to explore life; in fact, I have hidden treasures that reflect My glory along the journey so that you will have the joy of discovering them with Me.”

“And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, He will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?” — Matthew 6:30 NLT

Freedom is not a Number

On By Heather HensonIn Devotionals, Life's Lessons, Personal Reflections, Sharing from my Journal, Uncategorized7 Comments

Why do we let our ‘size’ define us? 

“I’m a size 12”, says she. “I’m a size 16”, says another with a sigh. With a note of triumph, the vivacious one declares, “I’m a size 8!” Yet another remains silent, looking down as if present in the conversation, but absent having withdrawn to the familiar place of shame that screamed at her, “Not good enough; you’ll never measure up!” 

I remember when…

Perhaps it was about twenty years ago when I was about to step on to the scales to do the daily ‘weigh-in’. In that moment, it was like an inner-audible voice spoke to me saying…

“What are you going to do with the number? 

I didn’t feel condemned or judged; instead, the words came like a gentle refreshing wind into my soul imparting life and love wrapped up in joy and peace. Recognising Jesus’ voice, I chose to stop. And I asked a question of my own; “What do you mean?” 

He spoke again with such wisdom and tender compassion that I felt seen, heard, understood and utterly loved. “Well, if it’s lower than you thought, you’ll be happy. If it’s higher than you expected, you’ll be sad.” 

Until that moment, I had no idea how much the numbers on a set of scales had taken me captive. 

But Jesus is fully able—and wants to—lead captives into freedom! 

He is the One who sets the prisoners free, but there are times when God’s Spirit must help us to see that we are captive to something and want to be free.

And today? I haven’t chosen to weigh myself since that day. Each time I felt tempted, I turned to Jesus, surrendering the desire to him. And in the moment of a big breath—in and out—peace and life-giving rest occupied more of my mind as I chose to trust Jesus that it would be okay. 

I remember when…

In the hormonal changes of my late forties, in the space of a few weeks, my internal alarm bells began ringing ever more loudly. I was watching the lower half of my body balloon as the medication the doctor prescribed me took effect. 

My altered body image was tormenting me in the room of my mind where anxiety and fear ruled. The shouting, judgmental, condemning and brutal voices were daily becoming louder, more strident and horribly vicious. 

One morning as I examined myself—yet again—in front of the bathroom mirror, I heard a very fearful, critical and self-loathing part of me. She had emerged out of hiding in the shadows long enough to accuse me. Feeling an increasing sense of dark despair, as if all hope was being flushed down the toilet, it was in that moment when I heard a different voice inviting my attention. 

The voice was gentle and strong. The words I heard were ushered in by an-other-worldly calm and hope—again, somehow audibly, but on the inside; “Heather, this is the way to be free. Every time you examine yourself like this, turn your eyes to look at Jesus instead.” 

At first it wasn’t easy. At all. Breaking negative habits is like that. At first, on the road to freedom in this area of my life, while standing in front of the mirror, I even held my face—to gently but firmly switch my focus away from myself on to Jesus. Other times, I needed to intentionally move away from the mirror because now I recognised the imminent danger I was facing. 

In my mind I could see the monster gleefully waiting to pounce and grab me and swallow me whole like a predatory dragon shaking me this way and that, all the time sneering, “I told you so!”

But God...

Each and every time I chose to let the Holy Spirit help me to refocus on Jesus rather than fixating on myself and the ‘problem’—it gradually became easier to breathe and really live! 

The freedom—in Jesus—came for me before the doctor telephoned to say there was a concern about the medication and I must stop taking it. 

I remember when…

The Spirit of God our beloved Father said to me, “Shame is not your friend.”

Shame is not your friend.

I did not feel condemned or judged. His words, and even the tone of his voice, changed everything. It felt like Jesus, kneeling in front of me, gently lifted my chin to help me look up into his eyes. 

And what did I see?

Come with me. 

When we look into the face of Jesus who is the exact representation of God’s being, you and I see that he has the kindest eyes that twinkle like diamonds shining in the light; like the way the water sparkles when the sun shines on the ocean! 

My precious friend, come close to God and he will draw near to you because he loves you so much!

It is man—people—who look at our outward appearance. God looks at your heart and mine and he who calls us to “Come to (be with) Jesus!” just as we are without one plea, will never ever turn anyone away. 

Your real God-given identity is not found in a number. 

Your identity is not defined by what the world demands you are or who you should be. 

Your true identity is found in Jesus Christ alone. 

So, come to Jesus in a posture of abandoned surrender. His lavish love and the gift of his amazing grace will wash you clean of the life-draining heavy weariness of endlessly striving to be right—to measure up and be acceptable.

The Spirit of Jesus will work a divine exchange transfusion in you—cleansing you of sin and despair—making you whole and healed and filled with hope and peace from the inside out.

Set free to follow Jesus!  

  1. Heather Henson's avatar
  2. rossmhenson's avatar
  3. ROSS's avatar

    Thanks Heather, this was such an important message for me to hear. The declaration of freedom that it proclaims is…

  4. Heather Henson's avatar
  5. Heather Henson's avatar