In Every Little Thing

I have had endless conversations this week about the Holy Spirit's presence in the minute details of our life. His dwelling in every moment and little circumstance. His interaction on every level of our lives--from big picture moments (like visiting with Pastor Moses Paulose from India on Monday) to specific "in-the-moment" moments (like the desperation of Friday evening--a night of not one, but two flat tires).

I am starting to see more and more that the purpose of my life is not so much about going, doing, discipling, and filling my time with ministry, ministry, ministry. No, the purpose of my life is simply to know God. To truly know Him, hear Him, speak with Him--to be made aware that in every little moment, decision, and thought, His Spirit is with me.

I found this word from Oswald Chambers quite provocative in that respect:

The Concept of Divine Control

". . . how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!"
Matthew 7:11

Jesus is laying down the rules of conduct in this passage for those people who have His Spirit. He urges us to keep our minds filled with the concept of God’s control over everything, which means that a disciple must maintain an attitude of perfect trust and an eagerness to ask and to seek.

Fill your mind with the thought that God is there. And once your mind is truly filled with that thought, when you experience difficulties it will be as easy as breathing for you to remember, "My heavenly Father knows all about this!" This will be no effort at all, but will be a natural thing for you when difficulties and uncertainties arise. Before you formed this concept of divine control so powerfully in your mind, you used to go from person to person seeking help, but now you go to God about it. Jesus is laying down the rules of conduct for those people who have His Spirit, and it works on the following principle: God is my Father, He loves me, and I will never think of anything that He will forget, so why should I worry?

Jesus said there are times when God cannot lift the darkness from you, but you should trust Him. At times God will appear like an unkind friend, but He is not; He will appear like an unnatural father, but He is not; He will appear like an unjust judge, but He is not. Keep the thought that the mind of God is behind all things strong and growing. Not even the smallest detail of life happens unless God’s will is behind it. Therefore, you can rest in perfect confidence in Him. Prayer is not only asking, but is an attitude of the mind which produces the atmosphere in which asking is perfectly natural. "Ask, and it will be given to you . . ." (Matthew 7:7 ).