My last post I wrote about persevering in seeking God’s direction daily. I was mostly preaching to myself because I had multiple mornings of diligently sitting in prayer only to hear little or nothing from God. Ironically, but not surprisingly, as soon as I wrote on waiting my waiting ended. Let me tell you about it.
Yesterday, was a rainy day so riding my bike to work was out of the picture. For those of you who aren’t aware, I have limited my car usage during Lent to those times when I have to transport other people. I ride, walk or take the bus now. Yesterday was a bus morning. I boarded the empty bus, exchanged a few polite words with the driver and settled into using the time to get focused for the day. Gratitude was full in my mind so I pulled a sheet of paper out and started mapping people for whom I am grateful. When I got to work I snagged a favored devotional guide, Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence
Let thankfulness temper all your thoughts. A thankful mind-set keeps you in touch with Me. I hate it when My children grumble, casually despising my sovereignity. Thankfulness is a safe-guard against this deadly sin. Furthermore, a grateful attitude becomes a grid through which you perceive life. Gratitude enables you to see the Light of My Presence shining on all your circumstances. Cultivating a thankful heart, for this glorifies Me and fills you with Joy.
Wow! Okay God, I guess I am suppose to be thankful today. I sit down and have my morning prayer time at that point vowing to write some notes to people I appreciate afterwards. In my prayer time the Psalm for the day is exactly what a pastor I am interceding for needs to hear. Later, I give him a call and send it his way. Once again, I find myself saying, “Thanks God I needed that direction” Also during my prayer I interceded for a friend whose brother and sister-in-law died last November. For weeks now I have been feeling the need to call him and just see how he is doing. Repeatedly I have ignored the need. However, my sense of urgency to call him during my prayer became undeniable. As soon as I finish praying I called him. Not surprisingly, I discover my call arrives on what would have been his brother’s 50th birthday. Several other God-incidentally pieces flowed out of my prayer time and dictated a significant portion of the day. Writing the notes of gratitude was a joy.
Once again, Wow! God is so good if we will take the time to show up and enjoy his goodness. Woody Allen once said, “Eighty percent of success is showing up.” Spiritually it is a hundred percent. We cannot make God do anything. We cannot magically force God’s hand through prayer, but if we will just make a point of coming to the party we can be sure overtime to see and experience His handiwork in amazing ways.
I hope you find this encouraging. Blessings to you as you seek God’s presence and offer God your faithfulness.
Nice post. Showing up is huge. Gratitude is huge. We seem to live in an era of entitlement and for some, I believe, this entitlement leaks over into thinking God is their genie in a bottle, rub, make your wish, and wait for the good things to flow your way. I read about ways to use God to get what you want in life. First of all, can’t you just see God laughing at the way some people think they are outsmarting God? What egos! How arrogant. And how dare they?! Second, are things really that important? I’m not talking about basic needs here. I’m talking about using faith as some kind of force to get riches such as expensive cars and houses etc. Things that you don’t need.
I struggle with asking for things in my prayer time (not that you eluded to this at all). I don’t want a Santa Claus but a loving Savior. I am reading the Randy Alcorn book, “Heaven”. It is interesting and I am learning so much but I keep coming back to the thought, “I understand heaven will be so glorious, but what I really want is to be with you Jesus. If that is heaven, wonderful, but I want to be with you wherever you are.” I want God. I want a deeper relationship with my Lord. Things are nice, yes, but not important as relationship, especially when that relationship is with Jesus. I feel sad for those who seek God for blessings more than relationship. They are missing out on the big picture and going for secondary things. They are missing out on everything that they can have with God for earthly pleasures, IMHO.