Spiritual Markers

I recently spent a day at Ignatius House in Atlanta. It was a dreary day, heavy with mist and light rain, perfect for writing or journaling. So instead, I went for a walk. The campus is lovely on any day and the paths weren’t crowded because no one else had the sense to hike in the rain.

Along the way, I spotted the rocks in the photo above. A reminder that even on a dreary day, there is much to celebrate.

Signs from God

It got me thinking of all the times God has spoken to me over the years. Sometimes it is through my prayer time. Sometimes it’s through scripture or other people. But sometimes I’ll see something and know it is either an answer to prayer or an encouragement to keep going. How do I know? Well it has taken many years for me to get to that point. I’m a slow learner and God’s still working on me. But there are a few things that stand out as ways to look for these signs from God:

1) Be spiritually open

God is probably talking to me all the time. But I’m not always listening. When I take time away from my to-do list and the things that remind me of my to-do list, I’m more receptive to what God is showing me. I would never have seen these rocks if I hadn’t taken some time away and been open to going for a walk when it didn’t seem logical.

2) Be still

Psalm 46:10

¹⁰ He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth.”

Being still takes work. It means carving out the time. Closing your eyes and asking God, “What do you want to say to me?” I promise if you listen long enough, you’ll hear an answer.

3) Be disciplined

Are you reading scripture to see what God is saying? Do you journal what happened during the day to see where God is at work? Do you practice the means of grace, knowing these are tried and true means of encountering the love of God? Just because you didn’t see a sign once in these practices doesn’t mean God isn’t using the practice to communicate with you. God may just be shaping you into the person God wants you to become.

We desperately want signs to interrupt our lives and show us the way. Perhaps they are already there, and we are too busy, too distracted, too closed off to see them. Take time to look for the signs, and you’ll see them everywhere.

Until Everyone Hears,

Dr K