We have looked at defining moments, that special moment when God turns up quite often unexpectedly.
They will not always be daily spectacular encounters. Mainly we go about our daily lives without such divine encounters but that does not make our ordinary day any less significant.
Look at how The Message describes daily living:
So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life, your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognise what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.
Romans 12:1-2 (The Message)
Lots of great advice in those verses! Personally, I have struggled at times to achieve this. Perhaps you do better. I hope so!
So what about our daily times in encountering Jesus?
Let me ask you a question. Worship is something we do both individually and in community. Therefore in your opinion…which is more important? And why?
Worship is meant to be both intentional and habitual. What does that mean? Which is more important?
We need to be habitual and intentional in our daily lives, presenting ourselves to God. Here we go – another question; how do I present?
I once watched a video of a guy who took a puppy that no one wanted. He saw in it something that he could build a relationship with. The guy mentioned he would point to the spot, the dog would go in that direction, then suddenly would look back to get the next command. At the end of the manoeuvres, the dog would always go back to the guy’s side and sit and wait patiently for the next command.
You see the dog is a picture of what it means to present himself to his master in readiness to respond.
What I learn from this story is the following…..
- The guy took the pup no one wanted. He saw in it something that he could build a relationship with. God did the same. Let’s pause and give God thanks.
- The guy mentioned you always want to do the best for the one you love. So does God. That is why He wants us to present ourselves to Him.
- When we know we are loved by God and that He wants only the best for us then we are ready for the final step which like the dog is to be trained to be accustomed to hearing the voice, then obeying the guidance given.
The same pattern is required for you and me. In order to be ready to present ourselves to God, we must be trained. On a Sunday morning, we have looked at what our training consists of (available on church website).
We used the acronym G R O W T H which is:
- G = go to God daily
- R = read the Bible.
- O = obedience to His will daily
- W = worship God in our lives daily
- T= trusting God in all circumstances daily
- H = Holy Spirt controlling our daily lives.
This week we will learn of other ways to be trained to ensure when divine appointments come we are ready.
Stay safe and Blessed.