His Eye is on the Sparrow

His Eye is on the Sparrow reminds us we are never below God’s notice. He is always mindful of our circumstances and needs, and He is covering us. In return, we must operate in faith and entrust our heart to His capable hands.

• Matthew 6:26-30 (VOICE) Look at the birds in the sky. They do not store food for winter. They don’t plant gardens. They do not sow or reap—and yet, they are always fed because your heavenly Father feeds them. And you are even more precious to Him than a beautiful bird. If He looks after them, of course He will look after you. Worrying does not do any good; who here can claim to add even an hour to his life by worrying? Nor should you worry about clothes. Consider the lilies of the field and how they grow. They do not work or weave or sew, and yet their garments are stunning . Even King Solomon, dressed in his most regal garb, was not as lovely as these lilies. And think about grassy fields —the grasses are here now, but they will be dead by winter. And yet God adorns them so radiantly. How much more will He clothe you, you of little faith, you who have no trust ?
• Matthew 10:30 (VOICE) You, beloved, are worth so much more than a whole flock of sparrows. God knows everything about you, even the number of hairs on your head. So do not fear.
• Jeremiah 32:17 (VOICE) Eternal Lord, with Your outstretched arm and Your enormous power You created the heavens and the earth. Nothing is too difficult for You.
• Genesis 18:14 (AMP) Is anything too difficult or too wonderful for the Lord? At the appointed time, when the season [for her delivery] comes, I will return to you and Sarah will have a son.

A Prophetic Nugget from Daily Downloads from Heaven by Meghan Williams is connected to this. It’s called “Trust Your Heart to Me.”

Matthew 6:26 (VOICE) Look at the birds in the sky. They do not store food for winter. They don’t plant gardens. They do not sow or reap—and yet, they are always fed because your heavenly Father feeds them. And you are even more precious to Him than a beautiful bird. If He looks after them, of course He will look after you.

Beloved, My tender care is apparent for all to see, and you are precious to Me. I never miss a thing – I AM mindful of details – nothing is beneath My notice. Will you receive from Me? Extend your hand, beloved, and accept what I have for you – even if it isn’t what you expected or hoped for. Trust in Me and in My goodness.

My thoughts toward you are good thoughts, so while you may not understand My actions, you can rest in the knowledge I AM good. I AM faithful and unerringly careful with your heart. Trust it in My capable hands.

A prophetic download from Annette Fleenor if connected to this. It’s called “Details.”

I am in the details. I know all about you and every need. Why do you not think I would want you to come to me for any and every issue you may have? Even the little ones that seem insignificant to you, they are all important to me. Every hair on your head is numbered. I so do care about you and every situation you face. Bring them all to me, the big ones and the little ones. No one thing is too small or too hard for me to do. Is there anything too hard for me? I am Lord who created all things, and I am in the details of your life. You are important to me, and I desire you to seek My face on everything that affects you to the smallest detail. Give it all to me and watch me work. 

I am that I am. I am Your provider for every need. I am a good, good Father who supplies good gifts and open doors, heals you and rescues you from all your troubles. Come to me, my children, come to me. You will not be disappointed as you yield these things to me. As you release them one by one to me, your faith will grow. You will learn to trust me more and more as you turn to me in everything. I created the Earth by my voice and more. I can do all things. Allow me room in your life to open doors and cause the flow to increase. Allow me to cause the dead places to live again and bring my flow of living water to those places. Deep is indeed calling to your deep places. Will you let me in?

Matthew 10:30-31 (CJB) “As for you, every hair on your head has been counted. So, do not be afraid, you are worth more than many sparrows.” 

Jeremiah 32:17, 27 (CJB) Adonai, God! You made heaven and earth by your great power and outstretched arm, nothing is too hard for you. Look, I am Adonai, the God of every living creature; is there anything too hard for me? 

A post by Meghan Williams from MeghanW.com is connected to this. It’s called “Expectation of Good (Hebrews 11:6).”

In my post “Taking thoughts captive (Ungodly Beliefs),” I talk about the pygmalion effect (self-fulfilling prophecy) and how we can avoid it when we are mindful to “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). God has been highlighting the theme of expectations, this is the third and final (for now anyway) portion, and it runs along the same theme, which is to be in expectation of good. So let’s start with Hebrews 11:6 (AMP), which is foundational.

But without faith it is impossible to [walk with God and] please Him, for whoever comes [near] to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He rewards those who [earnestly and diligently] seek Him.

This scripture was highlighted in my post “Substance of Faith,” in which I shared that “Faith is essential. And you cannot claim to be a person of faith if you don’t truly believe He ‘is’ – but also (and this is the one so many people struggle with) that He is a rewarder.”

This is where it ties back to the concept of expecting good. Do you truly believe that God wants to bless you? So many people who love the Lord (and “earnestly and diligently seek Him”) have either very low expectations for what God can and will do in their lives, or worse – they don’t believe He wants to bless them at all (often because they don’t feel “worthy” of being blessed). To make matters worse, this expectation of less-than-good or not-good can often lead to self-fulfilling prophecy, where we then draw that outcome to ourselves and then get the “pleasure” of being right.

In my post “The Impact of Expectations (How-to Manage Your Expectations),” I talk about how powerful expectations can be, and how we manage them can position us for good or set us up for failure. We need to know the difference between our hopes and expectations. Staying in a place of having an expectation of good, isn’t about the specifics. It isn’t saying “if God loves me, He will do ____.” It’s about living from a place of knowing His plans for you are good, so even when not-good things happen, you know that even in those moments – somewhere there is good. We see this articulated in James 1:2-3 (NIV).

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.

As we live with this expectation of good, our lives then become a testament to God’s very nature because the fact that we know Him, allows us to trust His heart for us, and our trust in His heart for us declares Him worthy of trust to those who don’t know him. In this way, we become true living testimonies to the goodness of God. The sobering part though is that when we do NOT have an expectation of good, the opposite is true. Then our lives unintentionally declare that we don’t believe God is good, which hopefully isn’t how we truly feel (if it is that’s a whole different ballgame). I share more about this in my post “Showing God is Worthy of Our Trust (Numbers 20).”

We can trust that God’s plans for us are good, that He wants to bless us, that He is mindful of us, that He will provide what we need, that He will walk with us in trials and strengthen us to persevere, etc. This is living with an expectation of good. And not just in our interactions with God, but with people too because He is sovereign – so even in those relationships, He is still at work.

If someone has let you down, you can choose to be a victim, or you can remember God is sovereign and ask Him why He allowed it to happen. Let me give you an example, let’s say that a friend has made plans with you and stood you up. You can choose to feel hurt by that, or you can ask God why He allowed it to happen. Perhaps He had something else He wanted you to do with that time, or perhaps He is wanting to highlight that this particular friend isn’t someone you can depend on and maybe you need to scale back your relationship with them (which may be Him protecting you from future, larger wounds from them).

This all comes back to trusting God. Trusting He is at work. Trusting He is good. Trusting He is moving on your behalf, etc. If you’re struggling with having an expectation of good, consider what the root of that is. Then take it to God and ask for Him to heal it. Do whatever you need to to get to that place of expecting good, both because it will be a blessing for you and because God is worthy of our trust.

Another Prophetic Nugget from Daily Downloads from Heaven by Meghan Williams is connected to this. It’s called “My Eye is on the Sparrow.”

Matthew 10:30 (VOICE) You, beloved, are worth so much more than a whole flock of sparrows. God knows everything about you, even the number of hairs on your head. So do not fear.

Beloved, never question how precious you are to Me. I know everything about you, and am interested in all of it. You are priceless beyond measure. Resist the urge to doubt My love for you based on earthly circumstances or the words and treatment of men. 

Beloved, My eye is on the sparrow. Knowing that I’m mindful of the least of creatures, can you truly believe yourself lower than that? You have been made in My image. So stand tall, knowing you are loved, and trust Me as Lord of all.

The hymn “His Eye is on the Sparrow” written by Civilla D. Martin is connected to this. This classic piece is a steadfast reminder for us to refuse to be so caught up in our personal cares and trials that we lose sight of the One who gave it all so we can be happy and free. We are reminded that “His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.” So may we resist the temptation to wallow and instead focus on the gift of grace we’ve been given and the limitless love the Giver has bestowed on us.

Another Prophetic Nugget from Daily Downloads from Heaven by Meghan Williams is connected to this. It’s called “Trust in My Sovereignty.”

Jeremiah 32:17 (VOICE) Eternal Lord, with Your outstretched arm and Your enormous power You created the heavens and the earth. Nothing is too difficult for You.

Beloved, pause and try to fully comprehend My power. Whatever you can think of, I AM able. Simply because I don’t move, doesn’t mean I can’t. I see what you do not see, and I understand what you cannot understand. Know that I AM sovereign, and trust in My sovereignty. 

I AM Lord of all. Simply because I don’t remove trials, doesn’t mean I’m unfeeling or unable. Rather, there are times where instead of removing the trial, I take your hand and walk you through. Like gold refined in the fire, so such times refine one’s character and beautify those willing to yield to the process. 

So know whether I protect you from trials or in the midst of them, I AM with you. And I AM more than able to take care of those I love, and beloved, that is you. 

Another Prophetic Nugget from Daily Downloads from Heaven by Meghan Williams is connected to this. It’s called “Put Your Trust in Me.”

Isaiah 43:1 (AMP) But now, this is what the Lord, your Creator says, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you [from captivity]; I have called you by name; you are Mine!

Beloved, what have you to fear? For you are Mine. I made you. I know your innermost parts. Nothing about you is secret from Me. I AM fully able to protect and support My children. So rest in and rely on Me. 

The enemy’s plans are not a mystery to Me. Nor do his forces exceed Mine. I AM all-powerful and have all the hosts of heaven at My command, is anything too hard for Me? Resist the urge to lean on your own strength, and instead put your trust in Me.

A final Prophetic Nugget from Daily Downloads from Heaven by Meghan Williams is connected to this. It’s called “Open Your Heart and Believe.”

Genesis 18:14 (AMP) Is anything too difficult or too wonderful for the Lord? At the appointed time, when the season [for her delivery] comes, I will return to you and Sarah will have a son.

Beloved, I AM capable of the miraculous, so stretch your faith and open your heart wider and believe. Resist the urge to only have faith in Me for the things you think I’m able to accomplish. I AM so much greater than you even know. 

Expect the unexpected. Expectation like this is an active waiting, not an entitlement. It is a joyful hope based on who you know I AM, and what you –  in faith – know Me to be capable of. I AM the God of the supernatural, so open your heart and believe.

A word from Elisa Eaton of Waiting in the Wings is connected to this. It is called “My Spirit is Your Provision.”

Beloved one, I have called you away from your old life, and have led you into new territory. You have crossed over into a time of inheriting My promises. Resist the urge to feel shame over your weaknesses or to feel overwhelmed by this new territory. For you have not crossed over alone; I have pledged Myself to you as a husband and will walk by your side all your days. I will be your strength and sufficiency as you navigate this new terrain.

My care for you is deeper than you know. I see every detail of your life. I have both planned all your days and have fashioned your form. I know you well, beloved. I also know the cracks and bruises of your heart brought through past experiences. I am mindful of what you will need to walk in all I have called you to. As I have guided you to this new place in your life, know with certainty that I have already provided for you here. Indeed, My Spirit is your provision.

Therefore, when you feel lost, afraid, or overwhelmed, still yourself and remember that I am with you. At times, I will move in your circumstances or move through others to be your support. At other times, the gift of My Spirit within you will be available to empower and guide you. So in your moments of weakness and need, lean upon Me. Naturally and supernaturally, I will be there to supply all your needs.

Philippians 4:19 (TPT) I am convinced that my God will fully satisfy every need you have, for I have seen the abundant riches of glory revealed to me through the Anointed One, Jesus Christ!

During the creation of this piece, God had us include falling rose petals in the image. He’s used this imagery before in our Dyed4you Art piece “Raining His Love,” and it was also used in a prophetic piece by David Munoz. As often happens in relationships, certain things take on deeper meanings as they are used as a mutual reference. This is the case with the falling rose petals, which He uses to symbolize His outpouring of love over us. It’s as though we can feel the gentle touch of the soft petals and are surrounded by their heady fragrance. In the same way, His love is overwhelming in the most beautiful of ways – full and experiential. 

As we were creating this piece, the fact that the trees in the background are magnolia trees was highlighted to a couple of team members. We started pressing in for more on that by researching what magnolias typically represent. FlowerMeanings.com shared the following meaning at www.flowermeaning.com/magnolia-flower-meaning/, “Magnolias symbolized dignity and nobility. In ancient China, magnolias were thought to be the perfect symbols of womanly beauty and gentleness. In the American South, white magnolias are commonly seen in bridal bouquets because the flowers are thought to reflect and emphasize the bride’s purity and nobility.”

Gardenerdy.com also shares, “The magnolia is a very tough, hard flower, unlike other delicate flowers. This is owing to the fact that it has had to adapt to changing climactic and geological conditions in order to survive, and it is precisely due to this feature that the flower represents endurance, eternity, and long life.” (This can be found at https://gardenerdy.com/magnolia-flower-meaning.)

As we pondered this, immediately the term “steel magnolias” began coming to mind, which is a saying used to imply “beauty combined with fortitude,” which seems to be supported by very nature of the magnolia bloom and its possession of unusual strength. This highlights the interesting dichotomy of beauty versus strength. We see this same parallel in women, which are referred to as “weaker vessels” (1 Peter 3:7), and yet they are the ones designed to withstand childbirth. In the same way, you have adapted to trials and situations over your life that could have taken you down, but instead you have survived and thrived.

In the same way, we see this seemingly opposing contrast of the sparrow – a small, arguably ‘overlookable’ creature. The sparrow is very much seen by the God of the universe, and He is mindful of each one. So as we look to ourselves, we must not think our ‘insignificance’ makes us below God’s notice, or that our fragility precludes strength. We are complex and intricately designed creatures, and the very attention to detail in our design speaks to the regard our Maker has for us. 

Another thing that was highlighted about magnolias is their scent, which is very distinct. In fact, you can tell when you’re near one because the fragrance is so potent. This brought to mind 2 Corinthians 2:15-16 (TPT), which reads “We have become the unmistakable aroma of the victoryof the Anointed One to God—a perfume of life to those being saved and the odor of death to those who are perishing.The unbelievers smell a deadly stench that leads to death, but believers smell the life-giving aroma that leads to abundant life. And who of us can rise to this challenge?”

This reminds us to be flavorful in our faith (Matthew 5:13), but also encourages us to not be overly concerned if some are offended by us. We must remember we smell like death to those who don’t know our Savior. So we need to resist the urge to diminish our testimony in an attempt to please or not offend. 

We were reminded magnolias are also one of the first trees to bloom in spring. In essence, they announce spring is coming. This connects back to having an “Expectation of Good.” Winter may be a trial, but remember spring always comes, and the previous season always prepares you for the season that’s ahead. And this strong sense of seasons is reemphasized by the silk hidden in this piece, “Awaken the Dawn”, which echoes the call to awaken to a new beginning. The soft colors of spring greens, the presence of magnolia trees in full bloom, and the sparrow all speak of spring, a fresh season of life, blooms and new growth. The emphasis is on fresh growth, new life, and stepping into this new season. It is a season that comes out of your past season, but now there is a bridge to walk from the recent winter season into this new season. Now is the time; the new season has come. So go forth with full confidence in His love for you and an expectation of blessing, then be prepared to soar and bloom. 

God highlighted various pieces within this portrait that became even more meaningful after they were researched, providing more insight. One of these images was that of the magnolia tree. Magnolias are one of the first trees to bloom in the United States, so they are often viewed as a harbinger of spring, or the tree that announces the coming of spring. Buds bursting to life with an explosion of fragrance and colossal flower accompany the early sign of the magnolia. Their gigantic blossoms are a welcome sight very early in the new season, especially after a harsh or long period of winter. 

Trees are amazing organisms that prepare themselves to withstand the force of winter by preparing in the fall. Among those preparations, trees slow their energy and water usage, causing them to drop their leaves and appear lifeless. Against a rough backdrop of freezing temperatures and winter winds the tree tends to look deceptively dead, but the tree is busy living its life cycle, in the slower pace, on the inside.

Interestingly, the buds for the current spring were set on the tree by the previous August. Also, most buds cannot burst open in spring without a season of cold that chills the buds. That being said, although the buds need a chill season, they also need protection against damage from the winter weather. Trees like the magnolia have a heavy, hairy, modified leaf layer, called stipules, covering each bud in the winter. This layer of modified leaf is intended to protect the bud through the winter and drops away when it is time for the bud to open in the spring with bursting blossoms. 

So though the art piece shows the blooming magnolia, it infers going through a period of winter, a time of cold conditions requiring one to adapt in order to survive it. You have an inner strength that has helped you adapt and withstand much in your life. God would remind you that His eye is on the sparrow – He has been with you in the hard places, whether you saw Him or not. He has never taken His eye off of you, nor His hand away from you. Sometimes reflecting back over moments of the winter season, you can see He was there. 

Seasons move forward and winter gives way to warmer days with the sun melting the snows into fresh water for the dormant tree. It is as if, at the upward stroke of His mighty baton – leading as the maestro, a giant symphony of life bursts forth. The slower pace of the dormant season gives way to the burst of life seen in tender green sprouts and swelling buds. 

In this early spring season, the heavy modified leaves protecting the buds fall to the ground, no longer needed. There is a sense that, similar to the protective stipule that falls away on the magnolia bud, God has protected the very buds of beauty that He placed within you. He has protected them from dying or possible (permanent) damage from the blasts of winter, covering them with His mighty hand. But spring has come and it is time to let these buds of such fragrance and beauty burst forth, blessing others with their showy strength and unique beauty. 

Just as the sparrow in this art piece looks out over the spring scene coming to life, so are you now poised and positioned to step into this season of beauty and grace. Walk over the bridge from past to present. The buds have now opened into full bloom. The breeze of spring scatters your fragrance and petals wherever God leads. Arise, burst forth in confidence and faith: walk with God, explore the unique beauty He has placed within you. Allow Him to teach you how to bring your beauty and fragrance to others. He brings you forth into a fresh season, teeming with life. 

Like the magnolia, you are a blossom of beauty and uncommon strength, blooming into a gorgeous blossom, strong and sturdy in Him and through Him. Allow yourself to continue to bloom under His care as He opens each of the buds He designed and placed in you long ago, protecting them to come forth at a time like this. Enjoy the beauty and be captivated by Him in this season. Let your heart be light as you take His hand and step into this season. 

The name of the silk hidden in this image is Awaken the Dawn. The colors in it are midnight sea representing tehowm (the deep – Psalm 42:7), blackberry representing regrowth after pruning, brandy representing rich life coming forth from the dry places, burgundy representing belonging to the Lord, coral representing going deep with God and deep things of the heart, and golden yellow representing glory revealed.

Father, may we trust Your heart towards us is good and that we are never beyond your notice. May we live from a place of yielding to Your plans for us because we believe You are who You say You are. We love You and want to see You glorified in all Your majesty, even as we trust in the hope that Your love for us exceeds our wildest expectations. Be magnified in us.