Last week I encouraged you to choose a word of the year, or listen for the word that chose you.  How did that go?  I would love for you to reply to this blog post and let me know your word for 2021. Hearing and seeing God in the new year has such promise for starting the new year on a hopeful note.

As curious is my word for the year, I feel God is infusing me with many questions, approaching Him in a childlike fashion.  If you remember, curiosity is an active desire to learn or to know. We all know children’s curiosity endear them to us, with that sparkle in their eyes.

I want to approach my conversations with God like that with a sparkle in my eye. I have this active desire to learn or know what He is doing and seeing where He is at work in the world around me.  As a grandmother, wife, friend and spiritual director, I am passionately curious to see God’s hand at work and be a part of all that He is involved in.

Being curious like a child makes life more joyful and hopeful for me.  He promises to lead, guide and go before me.  It leaves me feeling lighter and more trusting of seeing my path unfold before me.

What I will be sharing with you in My Sacred Moments are scriptures and questions that God shares with me, in hopes that the scriptures, questions and conversations that God and I have, will also resonate with you.

Many of you my dear readers, I believe are seeking after God and want your own sacred moments.  By exploring different scriptures that God has given us and the questions that arise, I believe you will have more curious, joyful and yes, more hopeful sacred moments.

The Process

Each week the reading you will receive will have scripture to ponder and a question.  With that question, you can be curious about where, when and how God might show Himself to you in the coming week.

Having awareness and being actively looking for God is like raising your antenna.  Your brain begins to seek out all the ways God is at work around you.  I believe you may be surprised each week at the ways He shows Himself to you.

I’ll also be sharing with you how He showed up for me so that you will know I’m on board with you.  I’m excited to go on this adventure with you.

The cool part about this adventure is that the scriptures I’ll be sharing came from many of you.  I asked if I could pray over you, one each week.  In order to do that, I wanted your favorite verse.  You can still respond to this blog and give me your favorite verse so that I can be praying for you.  I’ve not received 52 verses yet so there’s still room for your favorite.

An example

My brother has recently undergone surgery on his foot.  I bemoaned the fact I couldn’t be with him because of COVID restrictions at the hospital.  I became curious as to what scripture God would have me focus on in my sorrow.  My scripture reading that morning came from 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NLT.

“Always be joyful. Never stop praying, Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”      

I began asking God why my brother has to endure so much pain as he is often in the hospital for one thing or another.  How can I be thankful and joyful in the face of suffering?  Where are You?

As I continued my morning devotional readings, still wondering how to be thankful in all circumstances, God “just happened” to lead me to another reading in Psalm 22:24 NLT that read:

“For He has not ignored or belittled the suffering of the needy. He has not turned His back on them, but has listened to their cries for help.”

I realized that even though I couldn’t be there with him, God was present with him and I could trust that my brother was being taken care of, which I learned later was true.

I thanked God for His kindness in 1) caring for my brother and 2) reminding me in His word that He indeed is listening.

What about you?

I hope this example makes sense of the devotional challenge ahead in My Sacred Moments.  Each week you’ll receive:

• A new scripture to be on the lookout for God
• A question to ponder where God might be at work
• And a challenge to you to jot down a note or two about where you see or hear God at work
• An example of where I or someone else saw God in action

God is active among us and wants you to join Him.  He loves and delights in you.  I hope you’ll consider joining this devotional challenge.  2021 promises to have many sacred moments with Him.

Blessings,

Nancy

Reply back to this blog to let me know your word for the year and ask any questions you might have.

Plus if you are a Gramma, you may also be interested in an additional blog I am launching called The Grand Journey, for grandparents on a quest for creative and wise connections with their grandchildren.