As I sit in
the family room, enjoying my devotional time with Jesus, our big old furnace
roars to life in the utility closet nearby. Soon the click, click, click of the
metal baseboard enclosures expanding and contracting let me know the hot water
has made it to the room I am in. A faint, not unpleasant smell arises; I guess
it is the dust particles on the pipes warming up. Warmth permeates the chilled
air and my shoulders relax as the coziness of the heat envelopes me. Though I
can’t see warmth, I can hear, feel, and even smell its presence.
Like the
invisible heat from my furnace, God’s physical form cannot be seen, (now that
Jesus has ascended back into Heaven). However, just as the results of the hot
water flowing through our pipes can be readily realized, the effects of God’s
presence are clear and visible to anyone who chooses to look for them.
What are
some ways we can see God? I find God revealed in:
Scripture.
Often, when I need comfort or direction, God’s Word calms my fears and speaks
to my heart. Timothy 3:16 affirms this: “All Scripture is inspired by God and
is useful for teaching the truth, rebuking error, correcting faults, and giving
instruction for right living.”
Prayer. Much of my prayer time is me
talking. However, when I grow quiet, God guides my thoughts and feelings,
letting me know He is present. Colossians 4:2 says, “Be persistent in prayer,
and keep alert as you pray, giving thanks to God.”
Believers. At times, I need a physical hug or
to hear a story of God at work. My fellow believers remind me that God is real,
he cares, and he intervenes. 1
Thessalonians 5:14 says, “Warn the idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be
patient with everyone.”
Creation. The beauty and rhythm of nature
clearly reveals God. Romans 1:20 says, “Ever since God created the world, his
invisible qualities, both his eternal power and his divine nature, have been
clearly seen; they are perceived in the things that God has made.”
What makes
God visible to you? How will you look for him in 2017?
Be
encouraged!
Pam
©2017 Pamela D. Williams
