Often we miss much of what is going on around us. We tend to be busy with our lives – with the next thing that feels so important to us – that we overlook what else is happening. It is almost as if we only care about what “We” are doing. Remember, however, that life is bigger than you. There is a whole world and universe of activity around you all the time, most of which you are continually missing. Lift your head and get a glimpse of life around you.

Remember that the Kingdom of God doesn’t originate with you; it is a manifestation of the will of our Father in heaven. It has been said that God “appreciates what He initiates.” We don’t need to spend our lives trying to invent or create nearly as much as we need to simply cooperate with the movement/activity of the Holy Spirit already at work in our poximity.

Once you realize that God is already at work in your world and that His Kingdom is near you all the time, it changes your focus and takes a lot of pressure off of you. You don’t have to be the instigator. You don’t have to focus on what you need to do next to make things happen. Instead, you can learn to look and be responsive.

Scripture says, “Devote yourselves to prayer, be watchful and thankful” (Colossians 4:2) To pray means to interact with God. So, this verse directs us to discuss with God the things we see. This dialogue helps us to discern the activity of God. When we see what He is doing, the appropriate response is to express thanks. It is a miraculous thing to be able to recognize God’s initiatives! God also wants to use your watchful discernment to serve as an invitation for you to joyfully cooperate with Him.

Why not put these concepts to a test?
• Lift your head from your small world and survey what is going on around you.
• Interact with God about what you see.
• When you have a sense for what He might be doing, thank Him and begin to cooperate.

I believe this is how Jesus lived. He said He only did what He saw His Father doing. (John 5:19) This made His life a wonderful adventure, rather than a heavy burden. Thus, He invites us to learn from Him and find rest for our souls because His yoke is easy and His burden is light. (Matthew 11:29-30)

Pastor Tom Griffith

This entry was posted on Friday, August 17th, 2007 Friday @ the River. Subscribe to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.