One of the topics my friends and I talked about in college concerned the existence of God, and if God exists, the activity of God in people's daily lives. An atheist friend thought that everything in the universe happens due only to atomic collisions. Another said, "I believe in God, but I think God is impersonal. He just set things in motion, but doesn't get involved in people's lives." The Bible clearly gives example after example of God actively engaging in human history. God speaks directly to individuals and nations, through Scripture, the Holy Spirit, prophets, other believers, and even circumstances. This too has been my personal experience.
I woke up one particular morning preoccupied by worries. How do I solve this problem? Will this be enough? As I mulled over possible solutions and outcomes, fear and unrest churned. "Something" prompted me to stop and give thanks for three things. Just three. Surely I could be thankful for just three things.
Yep, no problem.
✔ A safe place to call home.
✔ Clothes
✔ Food
This was not hard at all, considering the recent devastation in Texas after Hurricane Harvey. I found I could genuinely give thanks for much, much, more.
✔ Family, friends, church
✔ Purposeful, engaging work
✔ Reliable transportation
✔ Beautiful weather
✔ Above all, a loving, righteous, just God
This brief exercise did much to settle my unease. The situation hadn't changed, but I realized how rich and how richly blessed I am.
Then, my devotional reading that morning also helped to look at the problem in front of me from a different perspective. The reading reminded me there are two ways of living: self-centered living or God-centered living.
Later that day, a friend gave me a copy of a short daily devotion.that she had found refreshing earlier in the week. It talked about the cartload of blessings that Jesus' followers enjoy.
At the end of the day, I could look back and see clearly how God had spoken to me directly - through a prompting, through Scripture, through a friend's encouragement and the writing of other Christians. No, there was no booming voice, no flashes of lightning. It was a gentle, quiet voice telling me to be still, to give thanks, to remember His goodness and watchcare over me.
God still speaks today - and if we will stop to listen, we will hear His messages.
I woke up one particular morning preoccupied by worries. How do I solve this problem? Will this be enough? As I mulled over possible solutions and outcomes, fear and unrest churned. "Something" prompted me to stop and give thanks for three things. Just three. Surely I could be thankful for just three things.
Yep, no problem.
✔ A safe place to call home.
✔ Clothes
✔ Food
This was not hard at all, considering the recent devastation in Texas after Hurricane Harvey. I found I could genuinely give thanks for much, much, more.
✔ Family, friends, church
✔ Purposeful, engaging work
✔ Reliable transportation
✔ Beautiful weather
✔ Above all, a loving, righteous, just God
This brief exercise did much to settle my unease. The situation hadn't changed, but I realized how rich and how richly blessed I am.
Then, my devotional reading that morning also helped to look at the problem in front of me from a different perspective. The reading reminded me there are two ways of living: self-centered living or God-centered living.
- Self-centered living is proud and relies on my own abilities and skills.
- God-centered living looks to God to make things happen.
Later that day, a friend gave me a copy of a short daily devotion.that she had found refreshing earlier in the week. It talked about the cartload of blessings that Jesus' followers enjoy.
At the end of the day, I could look back and see clearly how God had spoken to me directly - through a prompting, through Scripture, through a friend's encouragement and the writing of other Christians. No, there was no booming voice, no flashes of lightning. It was a gentle, quiet voice telling me to be still, to give thanks, to remember His goodness and watchcare over me.
God still speaks today - and if we will stop to listen, we will hear His messages.