PERSONAL DEVO ON PERSPECTIVE OF A TOURIST

Good morning! I’ve been back from my trip for nearly a week now, but it’s taken me this long to catch up on things and recover from jet lag! Before I start again with sharing spiritual analogies/devos related to the Word and the herd, I want to share with you what God reilluminated in my heart while overseas….

I went to Germany with one of my friends and volunteers so she could go to her sister’s memorial service and spend time with her family there. We spent half the time together, and the other half, while she spent quality, healing time with family, I ventured off on my own for a few days.

(Many of you know that I’ve traveled extensively over the years – it’s a passion of mine and was one of the biggest blessings of being single, but since pioneering The Son and Reins Ranch, I haven’t been overseas, so this trip was rejuvenating!)

What comes to your mind when you hear the word “tourist”? I know for many that conjures up images of large, loud tourist groups being herded around like cattle. The word can also bring with it thoughts of “loud, obnoxious, rude, disrespectful, etc”. We can think of tourist traps, not seeing the true culture of the country we’re in, or seeing the realness of the locals in their environment.  Unfortunately, these can all be very true.

But I have a different perspective…

For me, being a tourist, whether I’m an hour away from home or thousands of miles from home, means seeing with fresh eyes, experiencing things with a sense of awe and wonder. It means a heightened sense of gratitude, not taking things for granted but appreciating everything along the way. And when I travel anywhere, I seek the road less traveled. I want to get off the freeway and find a single lane country road and see where it takes me!

I find myself acutely aware of God’s presence, as I praise Him for His amazing surprises, I worship Him in His beauty and creativity, I rely on His help when I can’t read the road signs, don’t know where I’m going, etc. He reminds me that HE is the answer to my desire for adventure!!

And isn’t this how we’re always meant to live, even when we’re in the midst of our ordinary?

God says we’re aliens in this life; we’re just passing through; this world is not our home. So really, we’re tourists here! 

And oh, how it pleases Him when we live with a sense of awe and wonder and are filled with gratitude! Trusting God in the unknowns, anticipating His new treasures around every turn, walking with Him and enjoying the adventure on the road less traveled!

It’s all a matter of perspective, but I love being a tourist! Today, even if it seems routine and mundane, let’s ask God to help us see Him in the midst, to see Him in the details, and to see our ordinary through HIS extraordinary lens!