I came to the Word this morning, but God was silent.
I have an expectation that He will always speak to me. That if I quiet my heart, focus my thoughts and read long enough, that ah-ha moment will come. And I can begin to dialogue with the Lord about some new insight from this Book of eternal truths.
I moved from book to book among the 66. I even went off script and read from some of my favorite Bible teachers. But it’s been three hours… and still nothing.
Then I felt God’s nudge, “You speak to me first,” He seemed to say.
So I pulled out my Grateful Journal. I hadn’t numbered any thanks to Him for a couple weeks. Maybe He, too, was waiting to hear
Silence can be a powerful teacher.
As I began listing His gifts, giving them both numbers and specific descriptions, I began to feel His presence. Yes, God has the right to ask me to speak as He listens. After all, He does say:
“Pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances.”
I Thessalonians 5:17-18
And I wrote 21 ways God has shown His love to me. As I glanced back to the passage, I realized one verse back – I Thessalonians 5:16 – had happened to me.
“Be joyful always.”
God knew I needed to stop searching for more this morning. I needed to pause, reflect and give thanks for gifts received. Ann Voskamp calls it the “continual conversation. God whispers His love and we murmur our thanks.”
Photo: Carl Attard
TO CONSIDER: Is it your turn to begin the conversation with God? He says we enter His courts with thanksgiving. Perhaps numbering some gifts will crack the door for you today.