Focus
Experience silence in the midst of your busy day. Take some time to relax into a time to be with God.
Read
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 (NRSV)
Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. When they say, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them, as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and there will be no escape! But you, beloved, are not in darkness, for that day to surprise you like a thief; for you are all children of light and children of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness. So then let us not fall asleep as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober; for those who sleep sleep at night, and those who are drunk get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing.
Reflect
The words from this passage of scripture, “let us keep awake and be sober,” remind me to be aware of everyday occurrences that I consider to be acts of God.
One such instance happened when I went outside to place a hummingbird feeder on a shepherd’s crook. A hummingbird zoomed in and rested on the feeder while I was still holing it. I stood inches away in complete wonder and silence.
When teaching music at a middle school, I had been hurt by an evaluation. In my opinion, it was cruel. What did the evaluator know about teaching music? I went to the band director across the hall, after which I ran down the hall, and cried to the art teacher. Both of these colleagues helped me to feel the presence of Christ as they listened with empathy and understanding.
These two situations are very different encounters with the acts of God. Take a few moments to think about the many ways you have experienced God in everyday situations.
Pray
God, help me to see evidences of your presence. Thank you for your creation, and for people who have been your presence in my everyday life. Amen.
Go with God.
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