Perceiving

Perceiving

I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth; do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:19

As someone who has been involved in the world of new worshiping communities for over seven years now – this is a passage I’ve read more than a few times. God is doing a new thing – it springs forth – the question for us is do we not perceive it? I love that it feels as though it’s uttered with amazement – don’t we see the new thing God is doing? It’s as obvious as making ways in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

The thing is though - we don’t always see what God is up to. We look around and there are very loud stories about what the leaders of the world are up to. We tell ourselves loud stories about what we are up to. And we miss the moments that would point us in the direction of the spirit of God. The noise in our world drowns out the beauty of creation, the miracle of community, the call for justice. It is these God in action stories that can point us toward a way in whatever wilderness we find ourselves in.

Today could be the day we stop and pay attention to where God is moving in our world. Who knows what we might perceive!

Reflection Questions:

1) Try spending some time just noticing what you see, what you hear, what you smell, what you feel, what you taste.

2) Ask God to help you perceive the world through senses that can notice rivers in the desert.

3) At the end of the day today, be intentional about recognizing where you perceived the Spirit of God, the love of God, the Justice of God, the Forgiveness of God breaking into your consciousness.

Prayer: Dear God, Too often I feel as though I miss what you are up to in the world around me. I’m sorry I don’t pay better attention. Please help me to perceive what new things you are doing. In Jesus Name, Amen