In the previous blogs, we have examined the idea of discovering God along our faith journey. This journey of discovery is deeply personal; it is not a distant, abstract idea but a tangible, intimate experience. This journey is rooted in the truth that God yearns to be found and has revealed himself in myriad ways, extending an invitation to each of us to know him intimately. It may seem incredible—almost too good to be true.
The Old Testament narrative tells us that early in our historical timeline, humanity’s rebellion thwarted God’s desire to be known. As a result, we were exiled from God’s presence and our connection to God. Separated from him, we lack the spiritual capacity to know him relationally. Paul describes our condition as being spiritually dead.
The gospel of Jesus Christ heralds a remarkable message of reconnection with God. It is not merely a path to knowledge, but a life-altering journey that intertwines our stories into the grandeur of his. Those who embrace this faith can encounter God beyond his revelation through creation. The Apostle Paul encapsulates this profound desire as a personal “knowing God.” “More than that, I count all things to be loss, given the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Philippians 3:8).
While scripture provides us with insights about God, we can only truly know him in the landscapes of our daily lives, just as the men and women in the Bible did. Their stories are not meant to substitute for our own experiences, but rather a catalyst for discovering God in our unique journey.
It is important to remember that God’s presence can manifest itself dramatically or subtly. Sometimes, he reveals himself in a way that is impossible to ignore, like when he shows Moses a glimpse of his glory on the mountain. Other times, God hides in plain sight, and it takes our lens of faith to perceive the evidence of his presence. We can think of this discovery process as a CSI (Christ Scene Investigation, See TAD Blog 96).
We mentioned previously that God not only wants us to know him, but he also wants others to know him through our testimony. David illustrated this in Psalm 40:3, “He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; Many will see and fear and will trust in the LORD.”
The apostle John was even more explicit as he began his first letter. “What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life … (yes) what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed, our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:1-3).
To share our personal discovery of God, we must first identify those defining moments where God has shown up in the landscapes of our lives. Each defining moment provides the basis for composing what I am calling our “Life Song.” The following steps can help you capture your Life Song and then play/sing/share it with others.
Steps for composing your Life Song.
- Identify and describe briefly a defining moment in your past.
I use a defining moment to describe a kairos moment, a short or long period with a significant experience in your chronos (linear time) storyline.
In the Greek language, there are two words for time. One is chronos, which refers to the linear duration expressed in hours, days, and weeks: chronological time. The other is kairos, which refers to a moment, season, or opportune time. Kairos is not concerned with the length of time but with its significance. While chronos is quantitative, kairos has a qualitative meaning (See TAD Blog 91). Our life stories comprise defining (kairos) moments of various intensity and duration.
- How did you see God show up during that time?
- How did he meet your needs?
- Who was involved?
- What was accomplished?
- You may need your CSI lens of faith to see the evidence of God’s presence. Often, God shows up dressed in ordinary street clothes like he did with the disciples on the road to Emmaus.
Since God has promised to be with us wherever we go, the question is not, did God show up, but how did he, and did we recognize him? In Romans 1, Paul describes the devastating moral decline of those who fail to recognize the nature of God as demonstrated in creation. In another example, Moses warns the Hebrew people not to take credit for God’s blessing and intervention but rather recognize and acknowledge the touch of God (Deuteronomy 8:10-18).
- In your defining moment, what character trait of God was the most evident: faithfulness, sovereignty, goodness, etc.? Turn the character trait into a “name.” For example, in the Psalms, David calls God his Rock, Shelter, Banner, and Shepherd.
- Personalize your discovery by filling in the following statement: In the defining moment described, God became my ______.
One generation shall praise Your works to another
and shall declare Your mighty acts (Psalm 145:4).
Share your song with a friend or family member. You can start by saying, “Did I ever tell you about a time in my life when God showed up in a significant way?”
Additional suggestions: 1) Develop a visual marker to help you remember this encounter with God. 2) Expand your Life Song by dividing your life into decades. Identify at least one defining moment in each decade, repeating steps 1-4.
In summary:
- God is weaving your story into his eternal story.
- Your Life Song is a collection of defining moments when God showed up in a significant way.
- Your life song is your spiritual heritage to pass on to the next generation.
It is ultimately about God, not you, giving him glory.
- When you share it, you encourage others to recognize God showing up in their lives.
For Reflection
- Identify one defining moment following steps 1-4.
- Share it with someone.