When I walk my dog, he gets excited and agitated by things I can’t sense in any way. I definitely can’t smell what he smells, and I probably can’t hear the same things either. Often, as we are walking, he suddenly doubles back urgently. Something there smells so intriguing! If I allow it, he may spend a few minutes sniffing the area inch by inch and over again. I stand there and wonder what he smells and why it’s so interesting.

Meanwhile, I smell nothing in particular.

Besides what my dog smells, there are other things in this life that I can’t sense. God says they are very important. More important than all the things I can see, hear, and smell.

In order to know what those important things are, I need to stay close to God, to listen for His voice, and watch as He works in the world around me. To learn about the unseen world, I need to stick close to and focus on the one with the keener senses.

“So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭4‬:‭18‬ ‭CSB‬‬

God can see into people’s hearts. He knows who is vulnerable and hurting, who might need a kind and encouraging word from me. If I stay close to God, He’ll draw me to them.

God can see all of time — past, present, and future. He can see hidden dangers that I can’t. If I stay close to Him, He will protect me.

God can see into my own heart. He can see my faults and longings and worries. If I stay close to Him, He will pull me back from the brink of temptation and comfort me in my anxious moments.

Dear God,

Teach me not to rely more on my own senses than I rely on you. I know you can see all that is important, but I can only see what is here and now in my physical world — and not even all of that! Remind me how limited I am apart from you. Guide me toward your will and away from everything that is not part of your will for me.