November Mini-Practice: Noticing
Let's make space to encounter God by paying attention to our inner world...
Hi Friends!
I’m kicking off this month with a mini-practice. It’s not really a practice in itself, but it can be a way to start off any space you make to encounter God (in prayer, in scripture, when gathering with other believers, really any practice at all).
It’s noticing how you come to the space you are making. It’s paying attention to your inner world and your desires any time you come before God.
Basically, as you come into God’s presence, you ask yourself two questions:
How do I come today? (Notice the emotions you are bringing into the space. Don’t judge them. Be honest with God. He wants to be with you just as you are.)
What do I desire? (Notice what you most want as you come to your time with God. Again, be honest. God wants to hear your truest desires.)
And then, you move into whatever form of encountering God you are practicing.
There are many reasons this mini-practice can be helpful in setting the stage for being with God and in helping you grow in your relationship with Him as well as in your personal formation.
Here are a few:
It helps us grow in paying attention to our emotions and how they might be drawing us toward or away from God.
It helps us notice and release what may distract us in the space we are creating to meet with God.
When we name our desires for our time with God, we are better able to notice how He meets us there.
We deepen our intimacy with God as we are vulnerable and honest about how we come and what we want. We grow in feeling safe to be our real selves in His presence.
If we don’t notice and pay attention to our emotions and desires, they can often come out in ways we don’t want or expect.
So, when will you make space in your schedule for listening to God? What is God inviting you to regarding this mini-practice? Ask Him. Then think about giving it a try 😊
And may you encounter the God who loves you as you make space in your schedule and your soul.