Seeking Him/Finding Him (spiritual renewal)

Have you ever pursued spiritual renewal and believed there was a certain way to do it? And that anything else will fall short?

Perhaps it was attending a Women of Faith or similar conference. Maybe faithfully worshiping in a formal service every Sunday. Or it could be a special prayer service.

Those are all wonderful ways to lift our spirits, grow in faith, and focus us on Jesus Christ. However, there are any number of other ways to do the same thing.

Spiritual Renewal

Spiritual renewal doesn’t only occur in a certain place at a certain time. It doesn’t always look the same.

God is found everywhere and often does the greatest work in our lives when we least expect it.

Take for example my past two weeks. I’ve had the most incredible 13 days. The first four days were entirely different from the following nine, but  both time periods were utterly exhilarating and spiritually refreshing.

God met me powerfully in both places—and after.

Conference

First, I attended the She Speaks 2012 conference, an event sponsored by Proverbs 31 Ministries, as my first-ever writer’s conference. So many beautiful ladies reflected the face of Jesus Himself.

It was a powerful testament to the Lord’s presence and work in our lives. I gleaned many practical tools for my writing and speaking ministry, established friendships with amazing sisters in Christ, and grew in faith and spiritual awareness.

The Lord brought freedom to many and renewed hope to all through the words and touch of presenters and participants alike. I will write more about this spiritually charged conference in another post.

I need to feel this peace today.

Creation

Next came another profoundly spiritual event: vacationing with my family (all but my sweet Rachel who would not be safe nor enjoy it there) in the deep woods and lakes of northern Minnesota in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. The fabulous vistas, spectacular sunrises and sunsets, brilliant day and nighttime skies, powerful storms, and soul-settling peace refresh me as nothing else can. Yes, even with the unsettling drone and bites of mosquitoes.

God’s fingerprints are clearly seen in the rugged beauty of the great north. The opportunity to laugh, play, and just live undisturbed by beeps, rings, and other incessant noises of cell phones, computers, televisions, and vehicles is one I cherish.

Raw nature and deep solitude focus me on the face of Jesus. I can hear His whispers and feel His touch.

And then there was the bittersweet return to the chaotic “real” world and subsequent sweet reunion with Miss Rachel. Our family was complete again. The Lord God reminded me yet again of His provision in all facets of life.

Be Filled

From being filled through praise songs and encouraging words of 650 Christian women for nearly four days straight, with little alone time, to living in a blanket of quiet for 8 days where the still small voice of God was heard loud and clear echoing through lakes and trees, to the homecoming and reunion with our daughter to once again complete our family, God was equally present in all places.

Guiding  me. Filling me. Encouraging me.

So attend worship regularly. Take advantage of conference and retreat opportunities when you have them. Attend worship concerts and special prayer services as you are able.

But do not expect God to be present only in those places. Chances are you will experience Him in your life in more profound ways when you are not expecting it. A funeral. Difficult times. The everyday normalcy of our lives.

Be Expectant

Look and listen for Him in all.

The Lord will speak. He will fill you. He will find you, renew you, and guide you.

He will, but not always in the ways or at the times you expect.

Seeking spiritual renewal? Be expectant: The Lord will find, renew, and guide you, but not always in ways you expect. Click To Tweet

“Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in hell [the grave], behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me” (Psalm 139:7–10).

Reflections: Where’s your favorite place to seek spiritual renewal? Has there been an unlikely place you’ve experienced God’s fullness? Or perhaps there have been completely different experiences where He spoke into you. Care to share? We’d love to hear from you.

By His grace ≈

Julie