Gifts; A Joyful Face

I sat at the booth and checked my phone to make sure my friend knew where to find me. She had just parked and was walking over. Perfect. I ordered a cup of tea and was contentedly sipping on it when she entered. Seeing me immediately, she made a beeline for our table, took her seat, and looked up.

Her face was filled with joy as she asked how I was.

"I'm good," I said, slightly amused. "Why are you so happy?"

"Oh," she shrugged. "I just am."

"I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices." ~Psalm 16:8-9a

"As in water face reflects face, so the heart of a man reflects the man." ~Proverbs 27:19

Amidst all the sorrow and anger and fighting of our broken world this woman's face stood out. The joy in her eyes reflected the joy of her heart; a heart that had spent time with Jesus.

Throughout the rest of the day her genuine smile stayed with me and prompted a question that I had to ponder seriously; does my face reflect that I have spent time with Jesus? Does it reflect a soul that abides in well-being (Psalm 25:13) and a heart that has waited for the LORD and therefore can be strong and take courage (Psalm 27:14)? Or does it reflect the stress and frustrations of the day?

I do not understand how God transforms us from one degree of glory to another (2 Corinthians 3:18). It is a great mystery that can only be accomplished by His power and wisdom and carried out by the Holy Spirit. But I do know that if any of us are going to be changed we must "behold the glory of the LORD" and that means we sit at the feet of Jesus in prayer, Bible reading, fasting, singing, and corporate worship.

If our faces do not reflect that we have been with Jesus perhaps it's because, very simply, we haven't been.

On the other hand, my friend probably does not know the encouragement she was to me that day as she simply ate her breakfast, talked about every day things (which included hurts and joys), payed her bill with kindness, and then carried on with her day. Her simple obedience was a blessing to me; and all because she no doubt started her day at the Throne of Grace.

Actually, I'm still encouraged when I think about it. And it inspires me to spend more time in my prayer closet with my Bible open so that my face will not reflect her face, but the countenance of my Beloved Saviour.

What about your face?

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