Sharpening our Godspotting Skills
In my last post I promised that I would offer some tips for being more aware of God’s presence in our lives. Today I’ll suggest three good places to look: in His word, in His creation, and in conversation with Him.
Those of you who’ve been reading with me all along know why I think Godspotting is a worthy pursuit. I explained its value in my debut post. I also think we’re never “done” learning to be aware of His hand on us. We never completely master this skill because during our earthly time, we cannot know Him completely. Consider I Corinthians 13:12:
12 Now we see things imperfectly as in a cloudy mirror, but then we will
see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and
incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me
completely.
(NLT)
Since “all that we know now is partial,” as Paul put it, then we’ll never achieve complete awareness of Him while we’re on earth. It follows from that premise, then, that we can always become more aware.
If we’re to improve our spotting skills, His word is a good place to start. If you were setting out to search for an unknown person, you would want to learn about the missing person’s character and activities. The bible is our source to learn about God’s goodness, omniscience, omnipotence, and unfailing love for us (His character) and about His protection, grace, mercy, and comfort (His activities). You’ll also learn about His wrath, His judgment, and His jealousy–but it’s good for us to remember that God is not all snowcones and lollipops. Expectations are involved in our walk with Him.
A dear friend of mine opens her bible to a page and reads the passage upon which her gaze falls. She finds God speaks to her through directing her to the scripture He wants her to contemplate. I take a structured approach: I follow a schedule to read through the bible in a year. You may use another approach altogether. How you arrange to read the bible is less important than that you read it.
Maybe you’re longing to feel Him more closely in your life but reading the bible isn’t making the connection for you. Remember that one reason we read is to better understand the nature of Him whom we’re seeking. It also helps to spend some time looking at His creation.
Take a walk in the woods, a forest, or a city park and look at the plants, grasses, and trees. Think about the uniqueness of each leaf , twig and flower. Listen for the sounds of small animals scurrying on the ground or the variety of the birds’ songs. Or go to the beach and watch the power of the waves as they crash on the beach. Consider the numbers of fish, mammals, mollusks, seaweed, and corals that the oceans hold.
A little time really focused on His creation gives us another perspective on what we’re looking for when we seek Him.
Finally, talk to Him–and listen. If you’re facing a challenge, ask for His guidance. If you’re feeling guilty, ask for His mercy. If you’re hurting, ask for His comfort. When we confess our dependence on God and our trust in Him, we’re telling Him that we’re ready to follow Him.
That’s when He lead us. And that’s when we become most aware of Him.
7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the
door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks
finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”
Matthew 7:7-8 (NIV)
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