A devotional by Angela Anderson
“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
–Jeremiah 29:13 NIV
Can you recognize God?
God reveals himself to us in so many ways as we go through the course of our lives. Sometimes distractions get in the way, but God is constantly pursuing you, waiting patiently in line for your undivided attention. He wants to achieve a deeper level of intimacy with you, no matter what it takes. I believe there are four methods that God uses to accomplish this intimacy with us:
Method #1: Providence (His divine guidance in your life)
The Bible tells us in James 1:5 that God gives us wisdom if we ask for it. There are countless times in our lives where we find ourselves at a crossroad. We wonder if we should go left, right, or just continue straight. Before we make a decision in life, whether monumental or trivial, God wants us to consult Him for direction. His promise is that He will generously give us wisdom and He will never hold it against us for asking.
When we ask for His divine guidance, it is imperative that we have faith and that we pay attention to the signals that He will send our way. These signals manifest themselves in many different forms. Sometimes God answers right away as you pause after a prayer. His voice is audible in the silence.
Other times God will send a friend or a stranger to unknowingly utter the words that you need to hear. Maybe you will turn on the radio and the lyrics of a song at that exact moment will be your answer. You could be driving down the road and the bumper sticker on the car in front of you might display what God is trying to tell you. God’s methods to reach you are limitless!
Method #2: Provision (He is Jehovah Jireh, your Provider)
God reveals Himself in our lives through His provision. God promises to provide all our needs according to His riches in glory through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19). This means that God is aware of what we need and when we need it. His timing is perfect. When our backs are against a wall, we only need to express our requests to God, thank Him in advance for His provision, and then wait on Him with great expectation for His blessings.
There is an analogy in Matthew 6:26-30 that brings the concept of God’s provision to life. Most of us have seen a bird fly through the air, perch on a limb of a tree, or land in the grass. If you watch closely, birds are so carefree as they go about their daily business. Our Heavenly Father ensures that the birds are fed every single day. Another reference is made about the flowers in a field. God allows them to grow and bloom as He arrays them with such beauty and precision.
The amount of birds and flowers on this earth are innumerable, and God takes care of them all. Yet, God deems us more valuable than birds or flowers. His love for us is everlasting and He will surely take care of us too.
Method #3: Protection (He will never leave you alone to face the trials of life)
God is our Protector. Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you narrowly escaped involvement in a car accident? Maybe you were in an accident but when you look back at the aftermath, you wonder how you made it out alive. This is evidence of God protecting you from apparent danger. God is also in the business of protecting us from danger that we cannot see.
There are daily situations that are happening behind the scenes of which we are unaware. These situations remain unseen because God is constantly dispatching His angels to encamp around us (Psalm 34:7). He deactivates the traps that are set by Satan. The weapon may be formed, but it will not prosper (Isaiah 54:17)! God has this uncanny ability to orchestrate circumstances with the goal of rescuing us. He never leaves us alone. He is always right there with us.
Method #4: Plan (God has a purpose for your life)
God has a plan for you. There may be times when you may question your purpose in life but know this: You have a contribution to make to this world, and God has specifically designed an agenda for you to carry out your purpose.
God’s plans for you are filled with peace, not evil or harm. He desires to bless your future and to give you hope to stay the course (Jeremiah 29:11). Once you ask God and He reveals to you His purpose for your life, the road to fulfilling your purpose is not always an easy one. Often, the journey is long and there are bumps and potholes along the way. However, the trials that you will face are meant to shape you into the person that is required to accomplish your purpose.
Sometimes distractions get in the way, but God is constantly pursuing you, waiting patiently in line for your undivided attention. He wants to achieve a deeper level of intimacy with you, no matter what it takes, if only you would recognize Him.
Let’s Pray: Dear God, thank You for making Yourself available to us and presenting Yourself as a personal God to each of us. Help us to be more aware of Your presence in our lives and help us to recognize that You are all around us. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.
~*~
Author Bio:
Angela Anderson was born in Brooklyn, NY, and raised in NJ. She found her love for writing when she was in elementary school. She continued writing through high school, college, and into adulthood.
Method #2: Provision (He is Jehovah Jireh, your Provider)
God reveals Himself in our lives through His provision. God promises to provide all our needs according to His riches in glory through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19). This means that God is aware of what we need and when we need it. His timing is perfect. When our backs are against a wall, we only need to express our requests to God, thank Him in advance for His provision, and then wait on Him with great expectation for His blessings.
There is an analogy in Matthew 6:26-30 that brings the concept of God’s provision to life. Most of us have seen a bird fly through the air, perch on a limb of a tree, or land in the grass. If you watch closely, birds are so carefree as they go about their daily business. Our Heavenly Father ensures that the birds are fed every single day. Another reference is made about the flowers in a field. God allows them to grow and bloom as He arrays them with such beauty and precision.
The amount of birds and flowers on this earth are innumerable, and God takes care of them all. Yet, God deems us more valuable than birds or flowers. His love for us is everlasting and He will surely take care of us too.
Method #3: Protection (He will never leave you alone to face the trials of life)
God is our Protector. Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you narrowly escaped involvement in a car accident? Maybe you were in an accident but when you look back at the aftermath, you wonder how you made it out alive. This is evidence of God protecting you from apparent danger. God is also in the business of protecting us from danger that we cannot see.
There are daily situations that are happening behind the scenes of which we are unaware. These situations remain unseen because God is constantly dispatching His angels to encamp around us (Psalm 34:7). He deactivates the traps that are set by Satan. The weapon may be formed, but it will not prosper (Isaiah 54:17)! God has this uncanny ability to orchestrate circumstances with the goal of rescuing us. He never leaves us alone. He is always right there with us.
Method #4: Plan (God has a purpose for your life)
God has a plan for you. There may be times when you may question your purpose in life but know this: You have a contribution to make to this world, and God has specifically designed an agenda for you to carry out your purpose.
God’s plans for you are filled with peace, not evil or harm. He desires to bless your future and to give you hope to stay the course (Jeremiah 29:11). Once you ask God and He reveals to you His purpose for your life, the road to fulfilling your purpose is not always an easy one. Often, the journey is long and there are bumps and potholes along the way. However, the trials that you will face are meant to shape you into the person that is required to accomplish your purpose.
Sometimes distractions get in the way, but God is constantly pursuing you, waiting patiently in line for your undivided attention. He wants to achieve a deeper level of intimacy with you, no matter what it takes, if only you would recognize Him.
Let’s Pray: Dear God, thank You for making Yourself available to us and presenting Yourself as a personal God to each of us. Help us to be more aware of Your presence in our lives and help us to recognize that You are all around us. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.
~*~
Author Bio:
Angela Anderson was born in Brooklyn, NY, and raised in NJ. She found her love for writing when she was in elementary school. She continued writing through high school, college, and into adulthood.
Angela is the author of a devotional book titled, Just When I Thought I Knew God, and a children's book that is not yet published.
In 2021, Angela started writing articles for an online magazine called Christian Women Living, where she focuses on writing messages for mothers and sharing advice on parenting. In addition to this, Angela wrote a devotional that is featured in a book published by Proverbs 31 Ministries. The book title is Hope When Your Heart is Heavy.
Angela has a passion for inspiring and impacting others through her writing as well as speaking. She is the co-founder of Anchor Moms, a ministry to cure loneliness in Motherhood. Currently, this ministry meets via a group on Facebook.
Angela has been married to the love of her life, Duane Anderson, for 17 years. Together, they have two sons: Thomas (age 9) and Ryan (age 4). Angela’s favorite pastime is journaling, and she also enjoys spending quality time with her family. Her personal mission is to empower others to achieve their goals and dreams.
~*~
Connect with Angela:
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/angela.thomasanderson
Facebook fan page for her devotional book, Just When I Thought I Knew God:
https://www.facebook.com/jwitikg/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angelanderson1104/
In 2021, Angela started writing articles for an online magazine called Christian Women Living, where she focuses on writing messages for mothers and sharing advice on parenting. In addition to this, Angela wrote a devotional that is featured in a book published by Proverbs 31 Ministries. The book title is Hope When Your Heart is Heavy.
Angela has a passion for inspiring and impacting others through her writing as well as speaking. She is the co-founder of Anchor Moms, a ministry to cure loneliness in Motherhood. Currently, this ministry meets via a group on Facebook.
Angela has been married to the love of her life, Duane Anderson, for 17 years. Together, they have two sons: Thomas (age 9) and Ryan (age 4). Angela’s favorite pastime is journaling, and she also enjoys spending quality time with her family. Her personal mission is to empower others to achieve their goals and dreams.
~*~
Connect with Angela:
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/angela.thomasanderson
Facebook fan page for her devotional book, Just When I Thought I Knew God:
https://www.facebook.com/jwitikg/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angelanderson1104/
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.