God Moments
Dawn Hennessy
A couple of weeks ago, I was so proud of my multi-tasking efforts as I worked on my Bible study lesson while waiting for my Walmart pick-up order. When Miss Dee walked up to my car, I smiled and answered her questions about my food substitutions. She proceeded to load groceries in my car, and I continued my lesson. I thanked her when she was done and drove away, but instantly realized a missed a God opportunity. I missed the chance to be able to connect with Miss Dee. I chose a good thing when I could have chosen a better thing. I would have made time for my Bible study later, but I might not get another chance to connect with Miss Dee.
We often underestimate the importance of a conversation or interacting with someone on some level even if it is just a smile. In our never ending scheduled busy lives, it is easy to think that a conversation with someone is wasting time or something insignificant. But taking time for people is never insignificant! A conversation could be exactly how God wants us to show His love. The ability to strike up a conversation might not come naturally to all of us, but God calls us to be on a mission with people. We should be taking time to speak to others, listen to others, and encourage each other even when it’s hard, uncomfortable, or inconvenient. He calls us to look for God opportunities to reach into people’s lives and most of the time that starts with a conversation.
Be very careful then, how you live not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity,
because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
Ephesians 5:15–17
This verse isn’t telling us to go grab every opportunity and adventure in life. On the contrary, it’s telling us that in every opportunity, we should be living for Christ. We should be paying attention to the opportunities to live intentionally for Christ and making the most of each moment. Sometimes that moment is quieting our hearts and focusing on God’s word. Sometimes that moment means we are feeding our families, cleaning up messes, giving our time to help someone in need, choosing integrity in a job, or loving an unlovable coworker. Sometimes that moment is putting ourselves out there to talk to another mama at the playground, striking up a conversation with a person at the grocery store, or having a conversation with our teenager at midnight because that’s the time they are finally willing to talk. Living for Christ means living more flexible in each moment. If we are truly looking for God opportunities, I guarantee plans for the day will be altered at some point, which can be hard for planners like me, but oh those moments spent following God’s lead are so worth it!
There is nothing coincidental about every moment of our lives! God knows them all. “All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” Psalm 139:16b
God knows all the good, the bad, and the ugly moments in our lives! It can be so difficult to look for God opportunities when we are living in the hard!! Satan wants nothing more than for us to live distracted lives with our eyes focused on the waves crashing around us. Even in the most difficult moments in our lives, God is working! Those hard moments might be what allows us the ability to speak into someone else’s life. Our rock bottom moments will bring us God opportunities that we would have never had otherwise. Your words might be exactly what someone else needs to hear so they know they are not alone, and that God is still so good!
The busyness of life, the hard times of our lives, the fear of opening ourselves up, or fear of failing are all excuses we use. The next time I went to Walmart pick up, I made sure to put away my “tasks” and focus on the person God put in my life at that moment.
There is someone out there who needs you! We need to get out of our comfort zones because the mission field is in front of us and there is a world full of people who need us to be willing to at least have a conversation. They need you to listen to God’s prompting on your heart and step into their lives. They need your words of encouragement, your willingness to listen, your willingness to act, and your willingness to share about who God is and what He’s done for you.
Share God’s goodness with the world knowing that whatever place you are in, He has a plan and will work through you!
Let’s talk about it…
- What season of life does God have you in and are you living that season looking for unique opportunities?
- Who needs a God moment from you today? Are you watching for God moments in your life?
