If someone were to ask me what my favorite thing about life is I would definitely have to say it is knowing God. There are so many different ways that the Lord gives me attention that it would be impossible to name them all. Sometimes it has been hard for me to be aware of how He communicates to me, because I have thought of His glory as limited to coming through a few spectacular forms. God has been reminding me lately though that He is with me all the time, even when He does not reveal Himself in a highly noticeable manner.

     Often I will hear believers say things like “I have never heard from God” or “I have not encountered God's presence for such a long time.” I think people make these sort of statements because they are expecting a certain manifestation to hit them before they really know it is meaningful. However, the Holy Spirit is a very creative Person, and He often touches or speaks to us through a variety of circumstances. If we do not recognize this then it becomes difficult to find any joy or excitement in having a relationship with Christ.

     Jesus promised us in Hebrews 13:5, “I will never leave you, nor forsake you,” and He said of us in John 10:27, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” So it is silly for a Christian to act as though God is ignoring them or in some way distancing Himself from them. The problem is actually that we sometimes fail to pay attention to Him, or to appreciate the numerous ways He reaches out to us.

     I heard Lou Engle talking about revival recently, and he said people in a move of the Spirit will often have one of two experiences. They will feel God inspiring them or resting on their hearts, or they will undergo a physical sensation that causes them to behave in unusual ways. Many times the two things will not happen simultaneously, and so men will complain that they did not receive what they were hoping for. In both situations though the anointing could be falling powerfully upon someone.

     God loves us so much more than we could ever understand, and He is constantly working to meet our needs. Joyce Meyer wrote, “Each time we face a new crisis, we can remember that even though He may not have done exactly what we wanted Him to do, He always did something that worked out.” In other words, the Lord will always give us the sense of His peace that we need – if we will acknowledge it.

     Sometimes God will clearly answer a question that someone asks Him, while at other times He instead brings attention to a topic that no one was praying about. Sometimes God will change the whole atmosphere of a church in an instant, while at other times He will heal people in boring, lifeless meetings. He may give someone a detailed prophecy that changes their future, or one may receive a simple compliment that frees them from depression. I think the Father changes things up for us so much so that we learn to worship Him alone – rather than one of His specific gifts.

     Do not doubt that the Lord wants to impart revelation and grace to you on a regular basis. Simply trust Him to do it – and ask Him to help you stay “continually filled,” (Ephesians 5:18). He will certainly respond!