T.i.m.e. With GodSample

E- Experience God's Life For You

When you buy a new car, you tend to always see that car on the road. When you get engaged, suddenly, you notice everyone’s rings. When we genuinely desire to EXPERIENCE God, we tend to see Him in the details of our day.

I wasn’t always great at seeing God in the day-to-day. It wasn’t until I overheard two people raving about what God did in their lives that week that I thought, “I want to know THAT God!” It was then that I genuinely started LOOKING for Him. Full disclosure: it’s hard to create a habit of seeing God when His presence isn’t always as clear as a brand name or a shiny diamond. It may be hard, but it’s possible, and the more we look for Him, the easier it gets. The sooner we start this habit, the more we get to experience His goodness.

As a parent, I wanted to be intentional with helping to create this habit in my kids EARLY. I want to equip them to see God every day, in whatever way I can, so that when the day comes that things are hard, they still SEE Him right there WITH them.

After school each day (be it in-person or a call from the road), we ask each other two questions:

1) How did you SEE God today?

2) How did you SHOW God today?

This simple conversation helps all of us to experience Him, even in the mundane.

Years ago, had those two people not shared their experience with God with each other, maybe I wouldn’t have the relationship I have with the Lord today. What an incredible example of how I saw God through their community with one another. We may never fully understand how many people are watching and listening to our interactions with others or our conversations, be it after a game, on the field/floor/ice, or around our living room. How many people are missing out on God because we aren’t anticipating an experience with Him? How many people are missing out on God because we are quiet about our experiences with Him?

Are we boldly sharing our scars with each other? We each have a real story to tell. When we read about how Jesus was resurrected and how no one recognized Him until He shared his nail-scarred hands, don’t overlook that He could have come back completely flawless. Rather, He still had the scars to show people the powerful experience of God to bring Him back to life after the excruciating way He died on the cross. In the same way, people relate to us through our scars, not our highlight reels. People want to experience the God YOU experience when they learn about the hope He has given you, despite the scars that remain. Your light shines vibrantly when you experience God. You reflect what you focus on.

How can you experience God’s love in a community when away from your loved ones?

How can you use your experiences to bring light to someone God has brought into your life?

What is one way for you to experience God’s love with others?

This plan was written by NBA Referee Scott Twardoski and his wife Kimberly.

Did this plan encourage you? Learn more about MND Ministries and our weekly devotional call for Sports Officials by visiting www.mndministries.org