RECOGNISING GOD'S PRESENCE

Recognizing God’s Presence

When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had arrived, they came to argue with him. Testing him to see if he was from God, they demanded, “Give us a miraculous sign from heaven to prove yourself.” When he heard this, he sighed deeply and said, “Why do you people keep demanding a miraculous sign? I assure you, I will not give this generation any such sign.” So he got back into the boat and left them, and he crossed to the other side of the lake.Mark 8:11-13

Jesus had just miraculously fed the multitude, yet the Pharisees demanded more signs, more miracles. Like them, we sometimes fix our hopes on miraculous, stupendous events: our ship coming in so that all our financial woes disappear in a moment, or our wheelchair-bound friend getting up to walk again. Jesus is just as able to do those things as he was to feed the five thousand, but what about the fact that the sun rises each morning or that God has given us new birth into a living hope through what Jesus did on the cross? Aren’t those things manifestations of his miraculous power?

We see signs of God’s presence everywhere: in a bank, in the encouraging words of a friend, in the gentle rain, in the ways he provides all we need. We don’t need a miraculous sign—we just need Jesus! Ask him to help you to recognize anew the ways in which he is with you, for you are never outside of his loving arms or without his Spirit, who lives in you. Ask him to give you glimpses of his nature and character wherever you go and to turn your heart toward him in gratitude.

DEAR LORD, forgive me when I demand evidence of your working and power instead of thanking you for all you do. Please open my eyes to be aware of your presence, to sense your nearness, and to see the works of your hand everywhere I look. With all my heart I welcome your presence today, however you choose to reveal yourself to me. And don’t let me forget to thank you.

WE NEED NEVER SHOUT ACROSS THE SPACES TO AN ABSENT GOD. HE IS NEARER THAN OUR OWN SOUL, CLOSER THAN OUR MOST SECRET THOUGHTS.A. W. Tozer (1897–1963)