When life doesn’t make sense, tune into your 5 senses.

 I am coming to understand that not only do we experience the 5 physical senses of taste, touch, smell, sight and hearing but we also experience these senses spiritually. 

In my quiet time with the Lord, I was reading Sarah Young’s devotional called Jesus Listens. She referred to the eyes of our heart being open to a kind of sight that leads to hope. Meaning, our heart, in a spiritual sense is where our desires flow from. It’s where we hope and dream and where our emotions are felt and flow from. So when we have eyes to see into our heart and what it is we are hoping for, it may lift our perspective of what is to come. Not just wishing and dreaming but being confident in what God has promised in his Word. Hope is the anchor that steadies our heart when storms come into our lives. Hope sees the future glory that will revealed after the storm. 

Then there is faith. Faith comes by hearing, hearing the Word of God. Which leads me into the next sense of hearing. What are you hearing today? Are you hearing the voices of your own soul? Your thoughts, your will, what you think and feel? What would it take to quiet all that noise? What would it look like to listen to the voice of the One who created you? Who calls you by name and says,” you are formed in my own image, you are mine and I love you with an everlasting love”. The noise of this world and the noise within drowns out his whispers. To hear his voice we must be still and know. Know that he is God and went to great lengths to have communion with you. This is where heaven and earth collide. This where we can take our soul and find refuge in the One who cares, who hears, and who understands. This is what my soul clings to and finds rest in. In God alone. Which leads me to the next sense, taste. 

Taste and see that the Lord is good. His words we get to chew on. To roll them around like a smooth piece of chocolate to taste how sweet He is. How sweet his unfailing love is. Sometimes it’s like chewing on a tough piece of steak. Not understanding the meaning all at once. Sometimes it will be good to taste and other times it will taste sour and feel like spitting it out. But I have resolved in my mind that his ways are higher than mine and so is his understanding. His ways are best even if I don’t agree or think he is not answering the way I’d like. He is God and I am not. This is where peace comes in. Knowing I don’t have all the answers and that is okay. This is how I get to trust in the One who knows. This brings me to the next sense of touch. 

What am I putting my hands to that the Lord says, “don’t touch”. What am I trying to control that is not in my domain to control? Here is what I have experienced about touch. When life feels as if it’s spinning out of control, put your hands and feet to serving those around you in love. While circumstances are sometimes not of our choosing or the pain of life has its grip on you, get up. Get up from your bed, your couch, your weariness of wrestling the enemies inside of you and around you and seek out a smile, a hug, a flower or anything that delights your heart. As you touch the things that bring joy to your heart and calm the storm in your mind, your spirit will carry you. His Holy Spirit will accompany you as your feet walk in love. 

The last sense I would like to talk about is smell. Physically, smells can bring us down memory lane. For instance, I can smell Oil of Olay and it reminds me of my grandma. I can smell the creek as we go down it on the boat and it reminds me of family vacations. What smell brings fond memories for you? 

Spiritually, we all leave an aroma for those around us. Christ left us with the aroma of gentleness, meekness, patience and love. He came to save not to judge. He didn’t come pointing fingers or placing blame. He came as an invitation to come and those who receive that invitation and walk closely by him all experience the aroma of his presence. My hope and prayer as we walk closely together with him that our senses will be filled with all the fullness his love offers. In your precious name Jesus. Amen. 

With you and love you. 

Tracey.