God Attended

"When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, ‘Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.’ He was afraid and said, ‘How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.”- Genesis 28:16-17

Pastors can often fall victim to the “Numbers Game.”  Everything is measured and judged on how many people showed up to a service, special event, or small group.  Sometimes I even feel tempted to include people walking by the church property in our attendance numbers (just kidding). 

Over this last month I have been stirred by a phrase to live by, focus on, and celebrate in: I do not want things that are just Well Attended, I need things that are God Attended!  The true scope of our success and strength is not in HOW MANY PEOPLE are present, but HOW GOD powerfully and wonderfully moves among us.  In Matthew 18:20 Jesus said, “For where two or three gather in My name, there am I with them.”

Many of the God encounters in Scripture take place in unscripted and unexpecting moments.  Jacob was sleeping, completely unaware, when he has a dream of a stairway to heaven, only to awake in awe as described in Genesis.  Time after time God is showing up to speak, to reassure, to impart, and to deliver. We see God’s meeting with Moses at the burning bush; the Lord calling Samuel by name in the middle of the night; Jesus walking on water as the disciples battled big waves; and Peter being led by angel out of prison.  Zephaniah 3:17 proclaims, “The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in His love He will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”

As we continue January’s focused time of Prayer and Fasting, believe for God to meet you in beautiful ways and bring breakthrough your way! Begin asking regularly each day for God to meet you with peace where you are afraid, health where you are ill, boldness where you are uncertain, proof where you are doubting, and direction where you are sensing the need for clarity or change.  Hear the words of assurance and arrival from the Savior to your heart, need, and circumstance. In John 14:18 He promises, “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.”

Get ready for a Holy Meet Up!