This was interesting, watching a woodpecker at a bird feeder (with a camera) freeze in sort of hidden security behind the feeding post while a hawk came close… (photo attached and video link posted below):
It’s instinctual for the bird, would you do the same? Be very quiet and watchful? If this bird could pray, I bet he would. Pray away the prey. I don’t even know if that hawk would attack, but this woodpecker stood still.
We often are thoughtful in either taking steps to taking flight… We all have been in opportunities for fight or flight, and prayer. Praying is acknowledging that God is bigger than our troubles. Worshiping is acknowledging that God is in charge of all. Praising is acceptance of good and bad – praise God no matter what for God is God and we are allowed to participate in watching Him work.
I sort of did this when I saw what looked like a crazed woman trying to cross the street on a busy road, yelling at each car, and finally crossing and screaming at them. I was headed into the convenience store and hoped to avoid her, I did mostly, she was quiet in line behind me, no idea what would take place, I both wanted to run and yet also to hear if she switched into a normal conversation mode from this scary state. You know, I didn’t stick around for listening but as I zipped away, I prayed for the clerk, the situation, and her too with that: “geez Lord, what is going on with her?” unknown… My nervousness avoided the fight (not that there would have been) and I chose flight. We pray God’s got our backs (and every moment). I was stilled silent (and smart in my opinion) to keep moving.
The woodpecker spying the hawk was smart to stay still. Are there moments that we get so stunned that we can’t act? Are there times that silent vibes help or hurt? Some say passiveness is poor participation and yet each situation is unique and we must decide whether to keep the peace or do something to make it through, then return to our peace.
If we take it into our own hands, we could SHOULD rely on the coaching of the Lord, knowing He knows best, and trust mini situations and big ones to Him. Too often we don’t consult Him, even if it’s to say ‘sorry, I’m going to not deal with this situation right now.” And when we act or fail to act, of our own decision making process, may we return to say to God, ‘sorry and please help me turn to You first.’ This helps us think BIG picture at God’s plan.
In Jeremiah 7-10, God had Jeremiah tell the people to worship Him, consult Him, rely on Him, ONLY HIM. The Israelite people had drifted (again) and as individuals and a divided nation Judah and Jerusalem, they were worshiping false gods and not asking forgiveness to the One God Whom could give it to them.
Jeremiah takes this dictation directly from God: “this is what I commanded them, saying, ‘Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be My people. And walk in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well with you.’”
And Jeremiah records both God’s Wrath, his own sorrow, and the ultimate pretold plan to “refine” the people and ‘I will scatter them also among the Gentiles‘…
God said: “No man repented of his wickedness, saying, ‘What have I done?’ Everyone turned to his own course, as the horse rushes into the battle. Even the stork in the heavens knows her appointed times; and the turtledove, the swift, and the swallow observe the time of their coming. But My people do not know the judgment of the Lord.”
Jeremiah mourned the situation, like watching a train wreck travesty: “Is there no balm in Gilead, Is there no physician there? Why then is there no recovery for the health of the daughter of my people? Oh, that my head were waters, and my eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people! Oh, that I had in the wilderness a lodging place for travelers; that I might leave my people, and go from them!”
God continues: Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says the Lord.
I agree and hope you do too, I believe I’m God’s lovingkindnesses mercy forgiveness and direction. Jeremiah says: “the Lord is the true God; He is the living God and the everlasting King.”
Yes, I will be smart and stilled and listen to the Lord best I can. Open up my ears Lord to hear and my eyes to see and my heart to know. Amen
Amen
…
https://youtu.be/EDn8Ekti4Lc?si=fjFrHGyr9S4Nm4jB “Hairy Woodpecker Freezes In Place As Cooper’s Hawk Perches Nearby – Dec. 7, 2023” on YouTube
Here is all of chapters 7 to 10 of Jeremiah:
Debbie Upper 