A Soul Longing For More

YAY for Online Bible Studies!!!  We are back in session :)

In Chapter 1 of her book "What Happens When Women Say Yes To God," Lysa TerKeurst talks about how we've become "so familiar with God yet so unaware."  One of our blog topics is to address what are some action steps we can take each day to become more away of God's presence, and how we can intentionally pursue God even in the middle of "life's mundane activities."

One of the best ways I have been able to become more aware of God throughout my daily life is to post scriptures wherever I spend a lot of time: on my bathroom mirror, on my desk at work, by my computer, and on my fridge.  I try to rotate them out weekly, but there are some favorites that I use over and over again!  This really helps me continually turn back to God throughout my day!  (Note: This is something I learned in the previous online Bible study, "Stressed-Less Living," and it has been one of the biggest blessings I took away from that study!)

I was excited to see this topic, because I recently finished Priscilla Shirer's "Gideon" Bible Study, in which she address this exact topic!  Priscilla writes the following:

• "God often comes to us in our 'boring' days, veiled in the most ordinary of circumstances.  In fact, 'ordinary' is often the disguise of the divine.  If we are constantly anticipating a grandiose event to accompany the times when we encounter Him or hear His voice, we will miss out on many intimate moments in our relationship with God.  The mundane, the routine, the commonplace - these are often the contexts in which He will reveal Himself to humanity."  
• "Having your spiritual radar up in consistent anticipation of His presence - even in the midst of the joyful chaos and regular rhythms of your everyday living - is paramount in hearing God, because sometimes the place and manner you find Him is the lease spectacular you'd expect."  
• "Knowing God's purpose requires first being aware of God's presence."  
• "Most of our days are filled with routine duties required for life to continue with any sort of sanity.  But if we take the time to look closely, we might discover that God is using these normal activities to prepare us for future tasks, each duty pointing to His blessings in our lives."
• "If we'll look around, we might also find Him preparing us as He works through our daily lives.  Today's tasks - even the most mundane of them - are often preparation for tomorrow's calling.  They can carry clues to what He is leading us to learn and accomplish as we faithfully serve Him.  While it might seem comical to find spiritual principles in washing dishes or answering phones at your desk job, God is teaching you faithfulness, diligence, and integrity through every task."  

As someone who answers the phone many times during the days at work, this helped me realize that everything we do is important in the kingdom of God!  Now whenever I hear the phone ring, it reminds me of Christ, and I quickly make sure I am ready to help whoever is on the other end in a very caring and compassionate way, so that they may hear the light of God through me (even if they don't realize it!).  Whenever I go to get the mail at work and there is a huge stack to go through, instead of feeling overwhelmed and frustrated I turn back to God and thank Him that the practice I work in is thriving.  Whenever I go to get my personal mail and there are bills, I thank God that I have a place to live.  Whenever I see the scripture on my fridge, I am reminded that I am blessed beyond measure to have healthy foods to prepare and consume - sometimes I am even blessed enough to prepare meals to share with other people!  :)  

We are so blessed, and I pray that we can all be continually reminded of His good works, and do everything to the glory of the One who made us!  Love this song by Steven Curtis Chapman, it is a wonderful reminder that everything we do matters!

I am always reminded of all my blessings when I run across this:  

Dear Lord,

Thank you for this sink of dirty dishes; we have plenty of food to eat.

Thank you for this pile of dirty, stinky laundry; we have plenty of nice clothes to wear.

And I would like to thank you, Lord, for those unmade beds; they were so warm and comfortable last night. I know that many have no bed.

My thanks to you, Lord, for this bathroom, complete with all the splattered mess, soggy, grimy towels and the dirty lavatory; they are all so convenient.

Thank you for this finger-smudged refrigerator that needs defrosting so badly; it has served us faithfully for many years. It is full of cold drinks and enough leftovers for two or three meals.

Thank you, Lord, for this oven that absolutely must be cleaned today; it has baked so many things over the years.

The whole family is grateful for that tall grass that needs mowing and lawn that needs raking; we all enjoy the yard.

Thank you, Lord, even for that slamming screen door. My kids are healthy and able to run and play. Many children cannot.

Lord, the presence of all these chores awaiting me says You have richly blessed my family. I shall do them cheerfully and I shall do them gratefully.

Even though I clutch my blanket and growl when the alarm rings… Thank you, Lord, that I can hear. There are many who are deaf.

Even though I keep my eyes closed against the morning light as long as possible…Thank you, Lord, that I can see. Many are blind.

Even though I huddle in my bed and put off rising…Thank you, Lord, that I have the strength to rise. There are many who are bedridden.

Even though the first hour of my day is hectic with socks that are lost, toast that is burned, tempers that are short, and my children that are so loud…Thank you, Lord, for my family. There are many who are lonely.

Even though our breakfast table never looks like the pictures in magazines and the menu is at times not balanced…Thank you, Lord, for the food we have. There are many who are hungry.

Even though the routine of my job is often monotonous…Thank you, Lord, for the opportunity to work. There are many who are jobless.

Even though I grumble and bemoan my fate from day to day and wish my circumstances were not so modest…Thank you, Lord, for life.

~Author Unknown 

Thank you for reading, and God bless!!!  :)