Awakening to God's Presence in Every Moment
Awakening to God's Presence in Every Moment
Have you ever experienced a moment of clarity, hours or even days after an event, where you suddenly realised something profound had occurred? A whisper you didn't quite catch, a stirring in your heart you dismissed, or an ordinary conversation that, in retrospect, held extraordinary significance? These are the moments when we might find ourselves echoing the words of Jacob: "Surely the Lord is in this place, and I knew it not" (Genesis 28:16).
Our lives are filled with these sacred intersections, where the divine touches the mundane, often unnoticed. We're not alone in this oversight; throughout scripture, we see examples of individuals who initially missed God's presence in their midst.
Consider the scene at the Pool of Bethesda. A multitude of sick, blind, and paralysed individuals gathered, waiting for the miraculous stirring of the waters. Among them, a man who had been infirm for 38 years. Jesus approaches and asks a seemingly obvious question: "Do you want to be made well?" (John 5:6). In the man's response, we hear frustration and defeat – he's focused on his inability to reach the water in time, unaware that healing incarnate stands before him.
Then there's the Samaritan woman at the well. She encounters a tired traveller asking for a drink, engaging in what she likely assumed was an ordinary, if culturally unusual, exchange. Little did she know she was conversing with the source of living water Himself. Jesus gently leads her to a profound revelation: "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water" (John 4:10).
Perhaps one of the most poignant examples comes from the road to Emmaus. Two disciples, hearts heavy with the recent crucifixion, walk alongside a "stranger" who explains the scriptures to them. It's only later, as He breaks bread, that their eyes are opened to recognise Jesus Himself had been with them all along.
These stories beg the question: Where is God right now in our lives? Could it be that He's present in ways we're overlooking?
He may be in your wilderness or waiting period, offering strength you haven't tapped into. He could be in the people you routinely ignore or dismiss, waiting to speak through an unexpected vessel. God might be infusing the ordinary moments of your day with divine purpose, if only you had eyes to see. He's certainly moving in situations within the church and the wider world, often in ways that don't align with our expectations.
Even as you read these words, consider: could this very moment be holy ground?
So why do we struggle to recognise God's presence in the here and now? Several hindrances often cloud our spiritual vision:
Distraction: Our fast-paced, information-saturated world can dull our sensitivity to the subtle movements of the Spirit.
Over-familiarity: Sometimes, we've been around "church" or "spirituality" so long that we stop expecting fresh encounters with God.
Sin or unbelief: Unaddressed issues in our hearts can create static in our connection with God.
Expecting the dramatic: While God certainly can move in big, unmistakable ways, we may miss His still, small voice if we're always waiting for the spectacular.
The good news is that God is still actively engaged in our world and our individual lives. He's still stirring waters of renewal and healing – are we watching for the ripples? He still walks in the garden of our hearts – are we hiding or making ourselves available? He stands at the door and knocks – are we attuned to His gentle tapping?
This realisation calls us to a new level of spiritual alertness. It's an invitation to cultivate what we might call "present discernment" – the ability to recognise and respond to God's presence and activity in real-time.
So, what if you became convinced that God is moving in your life right now? How would that change your response?
Would you offer worship in this moment, regardless of your circumstances? Would you bring your questions, doubts, and needs to Him immediately, rather than waiting for a more "appropriate" time? Would you step out in obedience to that nudge you've been feeling? Would you pause to pray, right where you are?
Perhaps the most transformative question we can ask is simply this: "Holy Spirit, where are You now in my life? What are You doing? What are You saying?"
The most dangerous assumption we can make is that God is far when He is near. The greatest tragedy is to miss Him when He is present. But the greatest blessing? To awaken now and say, "Lord, I see You. Speak, for Your servant is listening."
This awareness doesn't require us to constantly be in a state of mystical elevation. Rather, it's about developing a habit of heart and mind that remains open to divine encounters in the midst of our everyday lives. It's about recognising that every moment has the potential to be sacred, every conversation could be holy, and every person we meet might be a divine appointment.
As you go about your day, challenge yourself to look for God's fingerprints in the seemingly mundane. Listen for His whisper in unexpected places. Be prepared for Him to use anyone – even you – as a vessel of His love and truth.
Remember, you don't have to wait for a mountaintop experience or a dramatic sign to encounter God. He is Emmanuel – God with us – in the here and now. The invitation is clear: wake up to the sacred present. Don't let another holy moment slip by unnoticed. For in this very instant, God may be doing something beautiful, something eternal, right where you are.
Will you have eyes to see and ears to hear? The adventure of present awareness awaits. Step into it with expectation and wonder.
Have you ever experienced a moment of clarity, hours or even days after an event, where you suddenly realised something profound had occurred? A whisper you didn't quite catch, a stirring in your heart you dismissed, or an ordinary conversation that, in retrospect, held extraordinary significance? These are the moments when we might find ourselves echoing the words of Jacob: "Surely the Lord is in this place, and I knew it not" (Genesis 28:16).
Our lives are filled with these sacred intersections, where the divine touches the mundane, often unnoticed. We're not alone in this oversight; throughout scripture, we see examples of individuals who initially missed God's presence in their midst.
Consider the scene at the Pool of Bethesda. A multitude of sick, blind, and paralysed individuals gathered, waiting for the miraculous stirring of the waters. Among them, a man who had been infirm for 38 years. Jesus approaches and asks a seemingly obvious question: "Do you want to be made well?" (John 5:6). In the man's response, we hear frustration and defeat – he's focused on his inability to reach the water in time, unaware that healing incarnate stands before him.
Then there's the Samaritan woman at the well. She encounters a tired traveller asking for a drink, engaging in what she likely assumed was an ordinary, if culturally unusual, exchange. Little did she know she was conversing with the source of living water Himself. Jesus gently leads her to a profound revelation: "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water" (John 4:10).
Perhaps one of the most poignant examples comes from the road to Emmaus. Two disciples, hearts heavy with the recent crucifixion, walk alongside a "stranger" who explains the scriptures to them. It's only later, as He breaks bread, that their eyes are opened to recognise Jesus Himself had been with them all along.
These stories beg the question: Where is God right now in our lives? Could it be that He's present in ways we're overlooking?
He may be in your wilderness or waiting period, offering strength you haven't tapped into. He could be in the people you routinely ignore or dismiss, waiting to speak through an unexpected vessel. God might be infusing the ordinary moments of your day with divine purpose, if only you had eyes to see. He's certainly moving in situations within the church and the wider world, often in ways that don't align with our expectations.
Even as you read these words, consider: could this very moment be holy ground?
So why do we struggle to recognise God's presence in the here and now? Several hindrances often cloud our spiritual vision:
Distraction: Our fast-paced, information-saturated world can dull our sensitivity to the subtle movements of the Spirit.
Over-familiarity: Sometimes, we've been around "church" or "spirituality" so long that we stop expecting fresh encounters with God.
Sin or unbelief: Unaddressed issues in our hearts can create static in our connection with God.
Expecting the dramatic: While God certainly can move in big, unmistakable ways, we may miss His still, small voice if we're always waiting for the spectacular.
The good news is that God is still actively engaged in our world and our individual lives. He's still stirring waters of renewal and healing – are we watching for the ripples? He still walks in the garden of our hearts – are we hiding or making ourselves available? He stands at the door and knocks – are we attuned to His gentle tapping?
This realisation calls us to a new level of spiritual alertness. It's an invitation to cultivate what we might call "present discernment" – the ability to recognise and respond to God's presence and activity in real-time.
So, what if you became convinced that God is moving in your life right now? How would that change your response?
Would you offer worship in this moment, regardless of your circumstances? Would you bring your questions, doubts, and needs to Him immediately, rather than waiting for a more "appropriate" time? Would you step out in obedience to that nudge you've been feeling? Would you pause to pray, right where you are?
Perhaps the most transformative question we can ask is simply this: "Holy Spirit, where are You now in my life? What are You doing? What are You saying?"
The most dangerous assumption we can make is that God is far when He is near. The greatest tragedy is to miss Him when He is present. But the greatest blessing? To awaken now and say, "Lord, I see You. Speak, for Your servant is listening."
This awareness doesn't require us to constantly be in a state of mystical elevation. Rather, it's about developing a habit of heart and mind that remains open to divine encounters in the midst of our everyday lives. It's about recognising that every moment has the potential to be sacred, every conversation could be holy, and every person we meet might be a divine appointment.
As you go about your day, challenge yourself to look for God's fingerprints in the seemingly mundane. Listen for His whisper in unexpected places. Be prepared for Him to use anyone – even you – as a vessel of His love and truth.
Remember, you don't have to wait for a mountaintop experience or a dramatic sign to encounter God. He is Emmanuel – God with us – in the here and now. The invitation is clear: wake up to the sacred present. Don't let another holy moment slip by unnoticed. For in this very instant, God may be doing something beautiful, something eternal, right where you are.
Will you have eyes to see and ears to hear? The adventure of present awareness awaits. Step into it with expectation and wonder.
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