When I heard the chirping, I knew their mouths were full.
After settling into my new position as pastor of a small rural church, I placed a few things on the front porch of the office building—among them a bird house. Within a few days, a mother bluebird began building her nest. I looked from my office window as she carefully selected materials and brought them to the house. When she entered the house, I knew she had laid her eggs.
Two weeks later, I knew the eggs had hatched because I heard soft intermittent chirps. As the days passed, the chirps grew louder as the baby birds aged. I’d peek out of my window and see little mouths extended from the small hole as mom and dad bluebird hung outside the birdhouse, stuffing food between those eager beaks. Then, when the babies’ mouths were full, Mom and Dad would fly off to retrieve more food. It seemed the little birds couldn’t get enough.
Deliverance from Egyptian slavery was a landmark point in Israel’s history that God didn’t want His people to forget. So, after reminding the psalmist of the rescue, God told him to open his mouth, and He would fill it with good things.
“Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it with good things” (Psalm 81:10 NLT).
I’ve missed good things from God on countless occasions because I didn’t open my mouth. Like not getting something I could have had from God because I didn’t ask. When Jesus knocks, I must open; if I want, I must ask. When I desire good things, I will open my mouth.
God is filled with love and mercy. He has beautiful plans for His children. He desires to give us more than we have, but there are conditions. Opening our mouths is one. As the baby birds eagerly received their parents’ food, we must accept what God offers.
God offers instruction and encouragement from His Word. We’ll never go hungry—or wrong—when we receive it. He provides daily guidance from His Spirit. We’ll never make a wrong turn when we take it. He gives abundant opportunities. We’ll never regret taking them. All we must do is open our mouths.
Open your mouth, and let God fill it with good things.
-Photo by Sandra Johnson on Unsplash
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