We have been developing the privilege, process, and practice of discovering God in the landscapes of our daily lives. Discovering God is based on the reality that God wants to be discovered and has revealed himself in various ways so that everyone can know firsthand the God of the universe. It sounds incredible – even too good to be true.
The Old Testament narrative tells us that humanity’s rebellion thwarted God’s desire to be known early in our historical timeline. As a result, we were exiled from God’s presence and connection to his story. Living out our own story, separated from God, we lack the spiritual capacity to know him relationally. Paul describes it as being dead.
Yet, the gospel of Jesus Christ brings us the exciting news of a way back, a way to reconnect to God’s story and rediscover our own narrative intricately woven into the grand tapestry of his. This is not just theoretical knowledge but a personal, intimate ‘knowing God’ that Paul describes as his ultimate desire. ‘More than that, I count all things to be loss, given the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord’ (Philippians 3:8).
Scripture tells us about God, but we can only know him by encountering Him in the landscapes of our daily lives. The biblical narrative introduces us to men and women who have discovered God. Their stories are not to be a vicarious experience but rather a catalyst for discovering God in our storyline.
Moses was after knowing God when he said, “Show me your glory.” Sometimes, God shows up in dramatic, hard-to-miss ways, yet at other times, he hides in plain sight where we need to use our lens of faith to see the evidence left behind. We referred to this discovery technique as a CSI (Christ Scene Investigation). (See chapter _______)
We mentioned previously that God wants us to know him and others to know him because of our testimony. David illustrated this in Psalm 40:3: “He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; Many will see and fear and will trust in the LORD.”
The apostle John was even more explicit as he began his first letter. “What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life— and the life was revealed, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was revealed to us— what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:1-3).
To share our God discovery, we must first identify those defining moments where God shows up. When we encounter God’s presence in our storyline, we have the basis for composing what I am calling our Life Song. Our Song comprises various verses, each expressing an encounter with God in a particular landscape. The following are suggested ways to capture your Life Song so you can play (sing/share) it with others.
Steps for composing your Life Song.
- Identify and describe briefly a defining moment in your past.
I use a defining moment to describe a kairos moment, a short or long period with a significant experience in your chronos (linear time) storyline.
There are two words for time in the Greek language. One is chronos time, the linear duration expressed in hours, days, and weeks: chronological time. Another is kairos time. Kairos time refers to a moment, season, or opportune time. Kairos time is not concerned with the length of time but with the significance of the time. While chronos is quantitative, kairos has a qualitative meaning (See TAD Blog 91). Our life stories are comprised of defining (kairos) moments of various intensity and duration
- How did he meet your needs?
- Who was involved?
- What was accomplished?
- You may need your CSI lens of faith to see the evidence of God’s presence. Often, God shows up dressed in ordinary street clothes. (Remember the disciples on the road to Emmaus.)
2. How did you see God show up during that time?
Since God has promised to be with us wherever we go, the question is not whether God showed up, but how he did, and did we recognize him?
In Romans 1, Paul describes the devastating moral slide on those who fail to recognize the nature of God when he shows up in creation. Moses warned the Hebrew people that they would take credit for God’s blessing if they did not recognize and remember the touch of God (Deuteronomy 8).
3. What character trait of God was the most evident: faithfulness, sovereignty, goodness, etc.?
4. How would you finish the statement, God was my ________?
5. Ascribe a name to God that would identify what he did.
- A name already used in Scripture.
- A name not found in Scripture but is yet descriptive. (David calls God his Rock, Shelter, Banner, and Shepherd in the Psalms.)
6. Compose this verse of your song.
Write out your narrative using #1-5 above.
Psalm 40:1-3 is a highly abbreviated Song from David. “I waited patiently for the LORD, And He reached down to me and heard my cry. He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the mud, And He set my feet on a rock, making my footsteps firm.”
7. Share your song with a friend or family member. You can start by saying, “Did I ever tell you about a time in my life when God showed up in a significant way?” “One generation shall praise Your works to another and shall declare Your mighty acts” (Psalm 145:4).
8. Can a visual marker help you remember this encounter with God?
9. Expand your Life Song by dividing your life into decades. Identify at least one defining moment in each one. Do steps 1-5 above with each one.
Review
- God is writing your story into his.
- Your Life Song is the collection of defining moments (verses) when God showed up in a significant way.
- Your life song is your spiritual heritage you need to pass on to the next generation.
It is ultimately about God, not us. Our Life Song brings God glory as it lifts him up. When we share it, we are saying God showed up in my life, and he will in yours if you look for him.
For Reflection
- Identify one defining moment following steps 1-4.
- Share it with someone.