how do you experience God's call? part 1

A few of my brothers and sisters in mission have decided as part of Lent to write and share devotionals with one another. I thought I would share mine with the rest of the world too. I shared this exercise on a retreat with my Wesley Foundation Campus Ministry at Michigan a few years ago, and I though it would be worth sharing again, as I've thought about it recently.

Take out a piece of paper. Go on, I promise you won't have to share your feelings with anyone if you don't want to. Fold the paper in half, whichever way is natural for you. Take about 3 minutes and make a list or word cloud on one half of the paper to answer this question: in what ways do you communicate with God?

Don't read on until you've done this!

Got it? Good!

Now take another 3 minutes to write on the other half of the paper the answer to this question: in what ways does God communicate with you?

Finished? Go ahead and read on.

What do you notice about the two halves? After reading and responding to the two questions, how do you perceive them to be distinct?

I'll share two of my thoughts. I have the privilege of knowing both questions a priori, but my first list of ways I communicate with God looks kind of bland. It mostly says "prayer" and I've listed different modes. I also listed worship in song and instrument, and also writing. My list second list of ways God communicates with me is much richer. Nature, friends, urges, discomfort, brokenness, scripture, food, and many more. 1 Thessalonians 5 commends us to pray without ceasing, and I might expand that to say: be in communication with God at all times. Take in those moments of natural beauty and thank God. Sit in the brokenness and search for direction. Cherish that Godly advice from a trusted friend, and know that all of these are gifts from the Giver.

Secondly, I find my prayer life can be focused more on the "how do I communicate with God" part and less on the "how does God communicate with me" part. True communication is a two-way street. How is it with your soul? Given the ways that God communicates with you, what can you do today to change your lifestyle, habits, or environment to listen to the voice of God more clearly? I have to ask myself these questions as well.

One of my favorite Psalms is Psalm 19:1-4a (NRSV). To wrap up, read the words slowly, and let them flow in and around you as you read.

The heavens are telling the glory of God;
   and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
Day to day pours forth speech,
   and night to night declares knowledge.
There is no speech, nor are there words;
   their voice is not heard;
yet their voice goes out through all the earth,
   and their words to the end of the world.

Go into your day knowing we follow a God who calls us by name, if only we would listen.