Ordinary Time

Pause

Knowing God is an intensely personal journey.

But it’s a journey we need to take in community,

where we find validation, challenge, new perspectives,

a shared story that gives shape to our prayers.

Enter into this solitary moment of prayer, knowing that you are forever beckoned into community by God and with God.

Listen

Come close and listen, all you who honor God; I will tell you what God has done for me: My mouth cried out to him with praise on my tongue. If I had cherished evil in my heart, my Lord would not have listened. But God definitely listened. He heard the sound of my prayer. Bless God! He didn’t reject my prayer; he didn’t withhold his faithful love from me.

Psalm 66:16-20

Think

This psalm conveys that knowing God happens in worship. Worship is what happens anytime we seek to know God. It is as much a personal journey as a group endeavor. It happens without plan and also as a result of intense planning. Knowing God is the pursuit created in us since the beginning of time and still today is best described as a mystery.

I was in my kayak on the river last night about sunset. I was trying to finish up these devotionals, and I thought that to be the perfect time and situation for God to be known. Nothing! I mean, it was a great time, a beautiful setting, and all. Back at the dock, I met a guy named Chris. He was new to town and coming down to the river for the first time. He was impressed, and we struck up a great conversation about how the evening was so amazing. Seeing it all through his eyes renewed what had become ordinary to me. Chris, with all his quirks and strangeness, became my Psalmist.

Brad Hood

Pray

God, who knows me and listens to my prayers, give me grace to listen to and know you.

Amen.

Go

Endeavor to keep finding God.

Uncover, rediscover, know,

and then be completely surprised by God,

revealed in all that is around us and all that is within us.