By My church has a daily devotional that is led by volunteers. Jeanne has been making these recordings for quite some time. Last month she reached out to me as she was going on a cruise and was hoping I could substitute for her for one week. In typical Mary fashion I said yes with very little thought. And now the day is here!
This morning I woke up to my calendar notification I’m responsible for this activity. I initially panicked. I have prayed multiple prayers to God to speak through me. I’m somewhat at peace – I’m not looking for perfection or praise. I’m looking to offer comfort and love to anyone who calls the number…and offer Jeanne peace of mind on her vacation.
The process is 3 fold
- Scripture
- Devotional
- Prayer
I have a very old Streams in the Dessert daily devotional that I’m borrowing from – using the scripture and doctoring the devotional a bit to suit my needs (correction – God’s needs). The scripture is from Exodus and describes the angel appearing before Moses.
Wouldn’t life be so much easier if we always received a big sign from God when we desire to commune with Him – burning bushes, angels coming down from heaven and singing to us, Jesus appearing before us with a personal message, a giant neon arrow flashing ‘go this way’? But that’s not how it works. Yes, God speaks to you. He is always present in your life, but He often works in whispers. He is molding you into the person he wants you to be like a sculptor, chipping away at the marble and sanding down rough edges. It doesn’t mean you are any less loved by Him when you don’t have a burning bush next to your mailbox.
Our society, especially with social media, pushes us to want to be the next Big Thing. We want to be famous! We want to go viral! That’s not what God wants for us or from us. His desire is for a daily walk. He wants you to be the best you and help others find themselves through Him. It’s not so much about an A-HA moment and massive epiphany as much as it is holding hands and at the end of the day looking back and seeing how He has delicately transformed you.
Your desire should be to see God in the every day. Look for him in your daily routine. See Him in the smile from your friend, the beautiful Fall leaves, the driver who lets you in front of him (that actually is a very large sign if you’re on an Atlanta highway), the beautiful blue sky. He is there, waiting for you.
Dear Lord,
You are a most gracious God.
Help me to see you in ordinary places and actions.
Be my companion when I take the common journey
Let my humble life be transfigured by Thy presence.
In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
