In yesterday’s devotional I spoke about the ‘art of noticing.’ It was about the art of noticing God’s goodness all around us.

This doesn’t mean that everything in your life is good. But everything that is good is from God. James 1:17 reminds us of this very fact: “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father…”

But to effectively practice the art of noticing you may need to pay closer attention to what is happening around you. It’s the difference between driving down a street and walking down a street. When you slow down you notice things you don’t otherwise see.

About a month ago in the middle of the afternoon I was tired. I figured a coffee would help. I could have taken my car to a coffee shop that was about a minute away. Instead, I walked. It took longer. But I noticed houses I hadn’t even seen before—even though I have driven down that street five hundred times! 

This is like life. Rushing is not a friend of noticing. Take little moments to look around you. To notice. When you do, you will increasingly see grace upon grace upon grace. 

God’s fingerprints are everywhere. 

A sunrise is the fingerprint of God, testifying the beauty of his creation. A friend’s laughter is the fingerprint of God, testifying to the simple joys of life. The birth of a baby is the fingerprint of God, testifying to the miracle of life itself. The presence of trees that produce oxygen, stars in the sky, and planets that spin are the fingerprints of God, testifying to the majesty of it all. 

Let’s practice the art of noticing God’s goodness. And let’s do so simply by paying closer attention to what is happening around us.

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Notes:

–Sermon: “Encased in Grace (The Art of Noticing)”. November 19, 2023. Click here.

–Radio. Did you know you can support The Up Devotional on radio? Click here to learn more.

–Bible quotes are from the NIV.