Every spring I have the pleasure of hosting a burgeoning family of birds, typically at the expense of my front door. One day, my wreath is a beautiful adornment to our home. The next, a functional dwelling for birthing baby birds. It literally happens every year.

More often than not, the wreath they choose is a Christmas decoration, and I am usually not quick enough to remove it before it gets commandeered by a momma bird with big plans to build her babies a nest.

She does it quickly and with such craft that you’d miss it if you weren’t watching her work. Her skillfulness and resourcefulness are unmatched; using feathers, sticks, and grass to make a humble and extraordinary masterpiece.

Once I discover what’s afoot, I am thrilled because I know what’s in store. I gather the kids and invite them into the wonder. We take turns on the step ladder to peek inside and see how many eggs are present. And then we watch and wait for them to hatch.

It always amazes me how many baby birds fit into such a tiny space. But they do. Packed in like hairless, ugly sardines with their mouths at a constant open stance awaiting to be fed. They are stinkin’ cute, in an ugly kind of way.

Like the babies nestled tightly within the wreath of my front door, who open their mouths wide desperate and eager to be fed, we too need to be fed. We need strength and nourishment, especially when weakened by life’s blows, maimed by medical and emotional disabilities, or blinded by disappointments, all of which render us a little more disadvantaged.

However, even if we’ve been walking with the Lord for a long time, we will go through seasons when our faith fails us, apathy grows like a weed, and our hearts sting with bitterness. And it is in these places of need and desperation that we tend to miss the mark.

For many of us, our natural tendency in these times of need is to lessen the blow and ease the pain. We seek comfort and immediate relief, but quickly find what we’ve received is insufficient and toxic, leaving us even more exposed than before.

We metaphorically open our mouths to anything, and everything we think will feed us, albeit temporary and subpar.

Psalm 81:9 leads directly into our verse this week, and it provides some color that can’t be missed. It reads, “You shall have no foreign god among you; you shall not worship any god other than me.”

Little g-god’s are being pointed to here. God is teaching us that nothing else will satisfy. No one else will satiate our hunger or quench our thirst. And yet, we seem more willing to accept what costs us less in hopes of a greater return. But He, big G-God, is our only true source of satisfaction.

Do you trust Him to meet your needs, to feed you—body, mind, and soul? Or do you tend to seek satisfaction in other places?

Our scripture this week is a directive to trust God for our sufficiency and satisfaction. It is a call to live in expectation of His divine delivery. But in order to discern His hand of provision, we need to take an open stance.

We need to open our eyes and see Him. To open our ears to hear Him. To open our hearts to trust Him. This open stance is the spiritual posture we need to adopt. It prepares us to receive all that God has for us because He is our only true source of satisfaction. Nothing else will do.

Reflect and Respond:

Do you find yourself in some state of poverty or lack? Are you opening yourself up to people and things that offer to satisfy yet leave you more empty and broken than before?

This week I want to encourage you to be still. Take time to open your eyes to see Him, your ears to hear Him, your heart to trust Him. In the stillness, take an open stance—expectant and ready to receive all He has to offer you.

Hugs for a great week and remember, you are not alone. Be blessed, be expectant, and open your mouth wide. He wants to be your true source of satisfaction.