Tag: God

Recognizing and Reacting to the Voice of God in Our Lives

Exodus 3:4
When the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.”

Moses was going about his normal business of shepherding the flock when he came upon the burning bush. He could not see anyone who might have started the fire. Moses could have run away in fear or he could have simply walked away thinking that this is no concern of mine. Instead, Moses approached the bush to discover more of this mystery unfolding before him. He heard a voice but there was no human there speaking it. But it was unmistakeable to Moses, He was being addressed by someone who knew him and knew His name. When the Lord saw that He had Moses’ attention, He called out to him and Moses responded, “Here I am.”

As noted, the first appearance of God to Moses was while he was tending his sheep. This seems poor employment for someone who was raised as a prince in the Pharaoh’s court. Yet Moses was well satisfied and God was pleased with him. God was pleased with Moses because he was learning the meekness and contentment that he would need in the calling that was awaiting him. He was also pleased with Moses because Moses was seeking God in his life.

Moses is a great model for each of us. He looked for God in his daily life and, more importantly, Moses was ready to hear and act upon whatever the Lord asked him to do. So it should be with us.

Let us look for God at all times. Let us expect to be surprised by Him showing up in the smallest details of our everyday lives. Let us be ready to respond to His calling.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, we thank You for always being present with us. We exalt Your Name for being our ever present God. We pray that You will open our eyes so that we can see You in every detail of our lives, from the grandest places and moments to the lowliest of places and moments. May Your Holy Spirit prepare us to be alert to see Your presence and to hear Your calling. May we always be eager to be instruments of Your good work and vessels of Your perfect love and forgiveness. We ask all these things in the name of our ever present Lord, Jesus Christ.

Reverent Acknowledgement of the Presence and Power of God

1 Thessalonians 5:17
Pray without ceasing.

When Paul exhorted the Thessalonians to pray without ceasing, most, if not all, were probably thinking that he was asking for the impossible. Let us consider whether prayer without ceasing is possible.

Prayer may be oral or mental, occasional or constant. It may be formal or in the form of an outburst. It may be offered in secret or in public. It may be a personal solicitation or it may be intercessory.

Prayer presupposes a belief in a God who wants to hear from us and wants to extend His perfect control over our lives. Prayer is offered in reverence with a humble sense of inadequacy and unworthiness as we bow before the holy and righteous God of heaven. Prayer is offered in thanksgiving for everything we already have been provided and are currently experiencing. Prayer is rejoicing in every moment as we recognize the presence of Our Savior and the fullness of what He has done for us and is willing to do for us. Perhaps most importantly, prayer is listening for His response as we commune with Him.

Prayer is recognizing that we have a daily and continuous need for the intervention of Our Savior, Jesus Christ. As we start each day of our lives, we can be sure that we will encounter new trials and new challenges in our service, whether it be carnal or spiritual. We would certainly be wise to call on the counsel and power of the Holy Spirit to aid us along the way lest we falter.

If Jesus Christ is the foundation of our lives, prayer is as natural as breathing. We are always needy. We benefit considerably by being continually before the Throne of Grace. Indeed, kneeling is not required. We can pray without ceasing just by recognizing the constant presence of the One who longs for our attention.

Let us discover how prayer without ceasing is possible. Let us live moment to moment in constant awareness of the One who dwells within us. Let us open our senses to constant communication with Him.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, we praise You for who You are. We thank You for all that You have provided and continue to provide. We submit to Your control over our lives. We pray that You will teach us how to make prayer to You as normal and as regular as breathing. May our lives be a continuous flow of our reverent acknowledgement of Your presence and power in our lives. We ask all these things in the name of Our Refuge in the Storm, Jesus Christ.