Doing All of Life With God

Pray without ceasing. —1 Thessalonians 5:17 NKJV

It was a brisk spring day in downtown Annapolis, Maryland. A friend and I were strolling by shops looking for a place to have lunch. I was a brand-new teacher at a local Christian school and all excited about my new job and the pretty town where it was located. I had only one very small problem on my mind. I wore my hair in bangs, had tried to trim them that morning—but had cut them way too short. I told my friend how frustrated I was and how silly I felt with the extra-short bangs flopping on my forehead.

She stopped and turned toward me. She grabbed both my hands in hers. And right there on a crowded sidewalk with people bumping around us, she prayed—out loud—that God would miraculously lengthen my bangs before school began that week. Although the gesture was very kind, I have to admit I was mortified. I come from a much quieter Christian tradition and was brought up by a proper British mum not to cause scenes in public. Yikes! It was not a short prayer. It was a lengthy beseeching. She was sincere in her desire to bless me. I sincerely desired that she … stop! I can smile now at the whole incident, but back then it was as embarrassing as my bangs.

Despite our differences, my friend portrayed an attitude that was worth emulating. She did life with God. Every bit of it. Every moment of it. No concern too trivial or too large. No time like the present to talk about any burden to the living God who walked with her through life. I may have felt uncomfortable with her method, but I was humbled by her life lesson. Did I walk with God like that? Or did I do a perfunctory quiet time and then get up and go on my way, carrying my burdens with me and not giving God a thought until the next time I opened my Bible?

An interesting phenomenon takes place over and over again in Scripture. I’ll be reading a Psalm or a conversation of some sort when all of a sudden, I’m brought up short because the writer of the passage, who just a verse ago was talking about God, is suddenly talking to God. Ever noticed that? Here are two examples:

He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
bringing honor to his name.
Even when I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will not be afraid,
for you are close beside me.
—Psalm 23:3-4a NLT (emphasis mine)

“He reveals deep and mysterious things
and knows what lies hidden in darkness,
though he is surrounded by light.
I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors,
for you have given me wisdom and strength.
You have told me what we asked of you
and revealed to us what the king demanded.”
—Daniel 2:22-23 NLT (emphasis mine)

As I’ve pondered this pronoun conundrum, I’ve come to the conclusion that this is simply a result of walking so closely with God that one is ever aware that God is Right There at all times. David and Daniel in the examples above switch from talking about God to talking to Him as if it’s the most natural thing in the world, because … it is! I want to live like that. I want to be more aware that my God is not only omnipresent in a generic sense, He is also present with me in a very specific and personal sense. I can talk to Him at any time about the weather or worries or even the length of the hair on my head. Praise be to God!

Father, help me to remember that You walk with me each day. That Your Son urged His followers to take up His yoke and follow Him. I willingly choose the yoke today. I want to be linked with You every moment. I want to talk with You as my close Companion. I want to consult with You and dream with You and marvel with You and turn worries quickly over to You. Thank You for Your nearness. Always. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

You are loved,
Sharon

Sweet Selah Ministries

Vision
To inspire a movement away from the belief that “busy is better”
and toward the truth of God’s Word that stillness and knowing
Him matter most—and will be reflected in more effective work and service

 Mission
To offer biblical resources and retreats that help women pause (Selah)
and love God more deeply as they know Him more intimately (Sweet)

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