A Simple Step to Build Confidence in God’s Activity in Your Life (Updated)

It is easy to miss the activity of God in our lives. Some of that can happen simply because we forget. One of the things God often encouraged His people to do things in order to remember. He had them keep a pot of manna to remember God’s provision. Joshua put rocks in order to remember the crossing of the Jordan River.

Memory and memorization is a hobby of mine. I know that is very nerdy, but I have embraced the nerd within. At the same time I know that it is important to keep a log of the things that God has said to me. I was reading through some of the notebooks that keep a record of things that I have felt God saying to me. Just rereading them has a great impact to encourage and challenge me.

What method do you use to capture the things that you feel God saying to you? Maybe a sermon has spoken to your heart and challenged you in some fashion. Maybe a verse has come to your mind and encouraged you in a particular way.  Maybe a friend spoke a word from God for you or a message came in a dream. I believe that it was a Chinese proverb that says, “The palest ink is better than the best memory.”

I have talked elsewhere about my simple journal method that I use to capture the things that God does every day. It has an important impact on my perspective on life. How are you going to capture that activity?

I am in the process of moving a lot of these paper items to Evernote which is a great resources and it is free. I can capture thoughts that God gives me and bring them back when the time is right. I heard the story of Jonathan Edwards, one of the great preachers in history, would ride his horse and pin little notes to his jacket of thoughts he would have so he wouldn’t lose them when he got home. Now they have an app for that.

What method will you start today to set up monuments to the activity of God in your life?

How to live with God when you have a crazy schedule.

You may be reading this feeling the intense pressure of a crazy schedule for your day. There may even be a small feeling that you shouldn’t be reading this right now. Then at other points of your day you will feel uneasy because you feel like you have not given enough time for God.

There are some thoughts that stick with you that help you for a long time after you hear them. A couple years ago I watched this video and the thought I will shared after may be a great comfort to you.

One of my big takeaways from this video is when he talks about needing to have a longer calendar. This helps me in some great ways. First it has given me grace to see the spiritual practices that may be more periodic for me than a daily routine. For example Jack Hayford talks about how he is now a big journal person. He just writes at certain seasons when he needs to process something. This helps me as I embrace my own journal method.

Second, it gives me joy in the seasons of life. Certain times of the calendar year have a different tempo than others. If you are a parent of school children the season of right before school can have a busier pace to it. Giving myself grace in those times brings new joy to my journey.

Third, he talks about this long view meaning that at other times you push in more intensely. Maybe you can’t spend your normal time in the morning with God so then you take a walk with God on one of your break times at work. It is a busier season of life so you have to set aside the news for a couple weeks so you can designate your free time to prayer and Bible reading.

Finally, I love his simple practice of getting up and saying that God is here. It reminds me of Frank Laubach and his game of minutes. He challenged himself to try to be aware of God’s presence at least one second of every minute of the day. Being aware of God is one of the greatest ways to bring God into our busy days.

A Simple Journal Method to Change Your Entire Outlook on Life (Updated)

Sometimes the simplest thing can have a huge impact. This is a method I have used that has had a big impact personally. Maybe it will do the same for you.

The most spiritual thing that you may do today is pull out a notepad and pen and put it by your bed. This process should not take a long time, maybe a couple minutes. I simply:

1. Write the date

2. Write 5 things I am thankful for from that day

3. Close the book

Sometimes at the end of the day I am surprised what things I will come up with that I have forgotten. Although I don’t do this most nights because I want to cut back on my media right before bed (it can effect your sleep). Another option is to simply email yourself the 5 things at the end of the night. Then in the morning when you get up you can put it in a folder. Or you could use Evernote or some other system. The key is to make it simple and something that you will actually do. I have a whole chapter on this and a lot of other prayer ideas like it in Enjoying Prayer.

This video is a remake of a video that I did a few years ago. It was by chance that I am wearing the same shirt. 🙂

You can watch that here.

Learn about how this method is part of a plan to eliminate worry from your life.