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The Day God Showed Up

November 8, 2012
Sharon Jaynes


Today's Truth
[Jesus said] "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working"
(John 5:17 NIV).

Friend to Friend
Bob told me about a visit to Vietnam where he met with a leader of an underground Christian church. This leader, who had spent a large part of his life in prison for his faith, told Bob many stories of the growth of Christians as approximately one-million believers met in hidden huddles all around the country. "What everybody wants is to see God move," the pastor explained.

And isn't that the desire of your heart…to see God move in your life and in the lives of those you love? Jesus reminds us, "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working" (John 5:17). Always at His work.  Always. And yet, do you expect to see it? Are you willing, along with me, to raise your expectations and anticipate seeing God's glory through His work in your life today? Are you willing to raise your expectations to experience moments of sudden glory where God makes His presence known?
I sat in a Sunday School room with a group of fellow Baby Boomers as Bob shared about his experience with this Vietnamese pastor. And at the close of the lesson, Bob opened up the floor for the class members to tell of a time when they experienced God moving in their lives.

"When I was sixteen…" one began.

"When I was twenty-seven…" another chimed in.

"Several years ago…" still another shared.

I was struck. We should have all been waving our hands and excited to begin with these words… "Yesterday God showed me…" "This morning God revealed to me…"

Why do we have to go so far back into the archives of our lives to look for that one time we recognized God moving in our lives? I dare say that we miss the glory moments that flash before us and even linger around us because we don't expect them to be there.

I want to challenge you to make a list. Get a notebook or a journal and write A Sudden Glory across the top. Then begin chronicling how God makes Himself known to you today…and tomorrow…and the next day. I am sure you will have far more to record than these few pages would allow, but I don't want you to wait another minute to get started!

David wrote:

"I will exalt you, my God the King;
I will praise your name forever and ever.
Every day I will praise you and extol your name forever and ever.
 Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;
 his greatness no one can fathom.
One generation will commend your words to another;
they will tell of your mighty acts.
They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty,
and I will meditate on your wonderful works.
They will tell of the power of your awesome works,
and I will proclaim your great deeds.
They will celebrate your abundant goodness
and joyfully sing of your righteousness. (Psalm 145:1-7 TNIV)

That is a party I'd like to attend! David recognized what God was doing in his own life. He listened to what God was doing in other people's lives. And then he invited all to join together and tell about the glory moments in a grand celebration. Merriment at its best. "Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story!" (Psalm 106107:2 TNIV).

And I would love to hear yours!

Let's Pray
Dear Father, open my eyes, my ears, my heart. Help me to see You working in my life today. Please don't let me get so involved with the busyness of life that I miss the Source of Life. I'm looking. I'm listening. I'm paying attention.
In Jesus's name, amen.

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