Rising Above it All

by heather reynolds⁽⁸⁾

When I was a child my favorite animal was the bird. Although there are cuter animals, birds could fly! I wished I could fly. I would imagine soaring above the tree tops without a care. In my view, flying meant freedom. I would observe birds peacefully soaring throught the sky at will. No one could stop them. They could go wherever they desired. When they tired they stopped and rested. They didn’t seem to have to work very hard for food. Other creatures seemed to respect them; and if not, they simply flew away. Another advantage for birds is their choice of going solo, or being part of a flock. In my youth I imagined they had great freedom in their choice of being alone or when lonely, simply joined a group.

Psalm 55:6-8 “I said, “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove!

I would fly away and be at rest-

I would flee far away and stay in the desert;

I would hurry to my place of shelter,

far from the tempest and storm.”

I have a treasure in my Hope Chest; made with my own eleven year old hands. It is a bird mosaic on a small piece of shellacked wood. Two birds are facing each other. I designed the birds with tiny pieces of colored glass at a Vacation Bible School one summer in Southern California .

I did my best on that piece of wood during that week. Others noticed and commented on my diligence and detail. I didn’t have opportunities like this often, so I wanted to make it something really beautiful. This is what I wrote on the back:

“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?” Matthew 6:26

It was during that week that I made the biggest decision of my life; surrendering it to Jesus (that’s another story).

The message of Matthew 6 is that we should not worry about anything; including where our next meal comes from. God takes care of the birds, and every living creation. He is the Almighty Creator. The Master of everything. I also learned that week that “He has the Whole World in His Hands”(a song); and that he loves us much more than we can imagine. Therefore we have no reason to worry.

The end of Matthew 6 says to “Seek first his kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things (needs) will be given to you as well. When we seek Jesus first in our lives, He will provide.

We will have troubles; guaranteed in the last verse, ”Each day has enough trouble of it’s own” and Jesus did say ,”In this world you will have trouble”. How wonderful it would be to simply spread our wings and take flight, away from our troubles and cares.

There is a scene in the movie “Forest Gump” of a little girl kneeling down in a corn field praying with a southern accent, ”Dear God, please make me a bird, so I can fly far, far away. Dear God please make me a bird, so I can fly far, far away”. She chants repeatedly.

We can “fly” away from it all. Our souls can fly to Jesus, with wings of Trust and Surrender.

Hannah Whitall Smith, says it beautifully, “All creatures that have wings can escape from every snare that is set for them if only they will fly high enough; and the soul that uses its wings can always find a sure way to escape from all that can hurt or trouble it.” …the soul that waits upon the Lord is the soul that is entirely surrendered to Him, and that trusts Him perfectly. Therefore we might name our wings the wings of Surrender and of Trust….if we will only surrender ourselves utterly to the Lord, and will trust Him perfectly, we shall find our souls “mounting up with wings as eagles” to the “heavenly places” in Christ Jesus, where earthly annoyances or sorrows have no power to disturb us.”

But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31 NKJV

This was my first favorite verse. When I was 13 I heard a Phil Driscoll song which has inspired me to this day. It’s called Wings as Eagles. After experiencing this song Isaiah 40:31 became my favorite verse. The NIV says “but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles…”

To wait on the Lord is to surrender to Him and trust Him fully. To unbelievers this seems like foolishness. The Bible says unbelief causes blindness. Unbelievers can’t see, understand, the benefits of surrendering one’s life to Him. They have spiritual blindness that will be healed once they get to know Jesus, surrender to Him and believe. God’s Love and Goodness is unimaginable and immeasurable.

Let’s mount up with wings like eagles, focusing on things above. As we go to our heavenly Father in prayer, seeking Him first we are mounting up with our wings of surrender and trust. Fly away from the smog or fog of this world up into His glorious light! Problems shrink down to nothing the farther you get from them. Your mountains will become dirt mounds under your feet.

In Jesus Christ we are overcomers. Because He lives in us we have access to His power. John 16:33 Jesus says, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 14:27 Jesus talk about the Holy Spirit, and says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid”.

Just as mother birds teach their babies to fly by making their nest so uncomfortable they are forced to leave it, our heavenly Father does with us. Young creatures must develop their wings in order to fly.

Our Abba father wants to teach us to fly! His means is through discipline and guidance.

Trials enable us to exercise our wings of surrender and trust. Brother James tells us to "consider it pure joy" when we “face trials of many kinds", because when our faith is tested we develop perseverance, and one day maturity.James1:2-4. Some people refer to such Christians as having strong Faith. Yes, their wings are developed and strong through surrendering and trusting God through every trial.

If you are not a Believer in Jesus Christ, having accepted Him as your Savior,then you are like a caged bird; imprisoned, trapped in your sin. Jesus wants to set you free Beloved!

“The Lord sets prisoners free” Psalm146:7

John 8:32 “ and the truth will set you free” 8:36 If the son sets you free, you will be free indeed!” The Bible has many verses about captives being set free by the blood of Jesus. There is no other way to gain your freedom than to surrender and trust in Jesus. Jesus says “I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me. John14:6.

Have you ever seen a bird with a broken wing? Flight is not possible without two wings. When we doubt our wing of trust will not work.

If there is any sin in our lives our wing of surrender won’t work. Sin separates us from God. How pitiful to be trapped in the fowlers snare, sitting in the filth of sin, unable to take flight.

Another trap that keeps us earthbound is anxiety. Proverbs 12:25 “An anxious heart weighs a man down.”

Cutting loose the cords that keep us entangled is the only way to escape our earthly cares and snares.

“Do not be anxious about anything.” Phil. 4:6. How do we simply not be anxious if we are anxious? “Cast all your anxiety on Him, for He cares for you.”1Peter5:7.

I think the caterpillar longs for the day when its view will change drastically from the mud and the mire to the greatest desire;

from crawling in the dirt to releasing its hurt

upon the One who cares;

The Glorious day when it becomes a new being,

developing its wings,

and discovers the reason why- the bird does sing.

But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. Malachi 4:2a

Article submitted Saturday, March 27, 2010 & read 869 times.

Leave your comments through World Wide Bible Studies:

» left by Barbara Curia from Mojave Desert (3 years 52 days ago.)

On Eagles Wings is a favorite song of mine..."and he will raise you up on eagles wings, bear you on the breath of dawn, make you to rise like the sun, and hold you, hold you in the in the palm of His Hand."
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» left by heather from veneta (3 years 52 days ago.)

Thanks for reading and commenting Barb! I don't think i have heard of that song. Have you heard of Phil Driscoll's Wings As Eagles? I tryed to download it ,attached to my article but couldn't. Maybe Hubby can help one of these days. Or I'll just put on a link to it. LOVE Ya!

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» left by Teresa (3 years 51 days ago.)

Beautifully done :-)
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» left by Marijo Phelps⁽¹³⁵⁾ (3 years 51 days ago.)

Thanks so much for sharing with your readers in this piece. Hope to see more of your writings here! There are so many examples about birds in the Word, aren't there?
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» left by Cheryl Pirillo from Longwood, FL (2 years 153 days ago.)

This was exactly what I was looking for, thank you!
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» left by Heather from Veneta (2 years 153 days ago.)

It's my pleasure Cheryl! God is Good! Keep looking to Jesus- Blessings to you! Love Heather

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