Have you ever felt torn between staying in your comfort zone and pursuing something you know is essential for your spiritual growth? It was a Sunday morning when I felt the stress of choosing to stay home rather than leave the house to attend church. My flesh and spirit wrestled between doing what was comfortable and what felt laboring. It had been a week of emotional chaos, and I did not want to be around people.
Am I alone in this experience, or have you, too, just wanted to be alone, skipping out of where you know you ought to be?
Excuses can string us along and convince us that our reasoning is justifiable.
Being in the house of God with fellow believers is not meant to be a burden. It’s a time to hold each other accountable, grow in the Lord, be refreshed by the fellowship, pray together, and, most importantly, worship our risen Savior. It should fill us with joy and peace, reminding us of the blessings and privileges we have as part of a community of believers.
We can easily forfeit the privileges and blessings God has given us in exchange for comfort and convenience. It’s a privilege to live in a place where we have the freedom to worship God when so many are persecuted for just believing in Jesus as their Lord and Savior. It’s a blessing of God to be a part of a community of like-minded people.
As my flesh and spirit continued to wrestle, God began prompting me to pull myself together and go. And I am so thankful that I did! God made it clear that He saw my struggles the week before through a saint, a penny, and a song. I know that sounds weird, but God will pursue us in simple ways.
Not long after making my way to my seat in the worship center, an older gentleman approached me. He began sharing how he had just discovered my website and how God had used “Pennies in My Path” to remind me to trust the Lord. He then reached into his pants pocket and pulled out a penny to give me. As he placed it in my hand, he said, “I want to bless you with this wheat penny to let you know how much I appreciate you coming here today.”
If you have followed my journey with the Lord, you know how significant this was to me. Ya’ll! I could hardly retain my tears. I usually discover a penny on the ground, but this time, God used a precious soul to grab my attention and draw my focus back on Him-not my struggle.
But that’s not all! I want to share another special moment with you.
The church praise team led us in worship with the song ‘The Blessing’ by Kari Jobe and Cody Carnes. This song holds a special place in my heart because I was blessed to dance to it with my youngest son at his wedding. As the familiar melody filled the air, I couldn’t help but join in. But then, something shifted. It was as if the Lord gently hushed me, urging me to listen and receive this song full of His promises as if He were speaking it over me. The words resonated deeply, and I felt His loving pursuit wrap around me.
Here are a few passages the lyrics convey:
Numbers 6:24-26 reminds us of the Lord’s blessing, love, and protection.
“The Lord bless you, and keep you; The Lord make His face shine on you, And be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance on you, And give you peace.’”
Deuteronomy 7:9 reminds us of God’s favor upon us, our families, and future generations.
“Know therefore that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments.”
Deuteronomy 31:6 reminds us of God’s promise never to leave or forsake us.
“Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.”
It was no coincidence that a sweet saint handed me a penny, and the praise team chose a song that makes me feel the presence of the Lord like none other. God knows each of us intimately and knows what resources to use to grab our focus and place it back on Him. We only need to look for Him with greater intentionality.
That morning, my perspective shifted from an inward to an upward focus, filling me with peace. My worship of Holy God poured out as an offering of praise.
Sure, I could have stayed home, sulking in self-pity, watched services online, and felt justified. However, I would have missed this special experience of God’s pursuit of my heart. I would have missed being in the presence of fellow believers worshiping together the One who sees us, loves us, will never leave us, and is due all we have to offer with this one life.
Friend, we don’t worship God to be blessed, but He does that when we yield our lives to Him. The next time you feel like avoiding church, let that motivate you to press forward. Heighten your awareness of God’s presence in the simple things. He sees you.
Ask Yourself:
How can I heighten my awareness of God’s presence in the simple things?
What plan can I have in place the next time I try to talk myself out of doing something God desires me to do?
BOOK UPDATE:
Y’all, I am overwhelmed and grateful for the support I have received regarding my first published book, Trust Issues! I would love to connect with you in person if you are local to me in Nashville, North Carolina, or live near Liberty, South Carolina. I will have a book signing gathering on June 11 in Nashville and one on June 17 in Liberty. So, if you can make it or need more details, reply to this email.
If you cannot attend a book signing event and would like to grab a signed copy from me, check this option out!
Click the image or visit my website shop at JodiAiken.com.
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