In August of 2019, we hosted a team of missionaries here in Kenya led by our friend Randy Jones. It was during the school holidays, which meant our three children were at home along with some of their cousins. In the evening, we would have devotions and there could easily be ten to fifteen of us at any given time.
As our team leader, Randy wanted us to take time at the end of the day to share with the group where we had seen God during the day. In a country where things often don't work out as planned, Randy always tells the team to apply the F-word: Flexibility. So, at the end of a day, where things might not have started off the way they should have, we really needed to synthesize and verbalize the different ways God orchestrated the day to fulfill His purposes. If someone said they hadn't seen God that day, Randy would always issue this encouragement, "God is everywhere, keep looking for Him and you will see Him."
I didn't realize then that God was preparing us as a family to appreciate His words and His ways in our day-to-day lives at a greater scale than ever before. Before we started looking for God every day, I often 'felt,’ He was a God afar off. After the team returned to the USA, we continued asking each other, “Where did you see God today?” as a daily family tradition. This tradition has continued even during the pandemic.
Asking this simple question daily has had a significant effect on my family. We have witnessed and experienced strength, encouragement, humility, thankfulness, fellowship, and truth about God.
The joy of the Lord has become our strength. I have been more joyful since August 2019 than in my entire 19 years as a believer because I have learned and I am still learning to see Him everywhere, and He is there in abundance!
“The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.”
Psalm 28:7
We have seen His hand in many difficult situations. If we had not been looking for His hand and evidence of His work daily, we would have been devastated, especially during the current turbulent economic and political times.
Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.
Lamentations 3:22
We have learned to speak honestly about our day, our struggles and how God is helping us. Recently, our six-year-old son was very eager to share about where he had seen God that day. When I got home, we had to do the session immediately. It turns out he had punched a boy at school who was troubling him and felt sorry about what he had done. They forgave each other, reconciled, played and read a storybook together before the end of the day and, according to him, had become good friends. All this in one day! Apart from marveling at my little Kenyan boy's perfect use of the word reconcile, hearing Him attribute that whole episode to God's hand at work was awe-inspiring. It was definitely my 'Where I saw God that day' moment.
But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me.
2 Corinthians 12:9 (Berean Study Bible)
It has presented an opportunity for us to teach our children how to praise Him in all circumstances. I usually play Christian music and a lot of sound teaching from Grace in Focus, Cypress Valley Bible Church and Free Grace International out loud in our home. I have discovered that everyone listens in, even our six-year-old. Just today, he heard Bob Bryant talk about bathing once and never having to bathe again but just needing to wash our feet. That was just before our 'Where we saw God session.' He asked, "Dad, does this mean I don't have to bathe daily?" Funny as it was, it presented an opportunity for us to reiterate what we have always taught them about eternal security - a great reason to forever praise Him!
“Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked. “Yes,” Jesus answered. “Have you never read: ‘From the mouths of children and infants You have ordained praise’?”
Matthew 21:16 (Berean Study Bible)
We have taught and encouraged others to look for Him in their day. Every visitor that sits at our dinner table gets to share in this experience.
In earnestly searching for Him in our day, we have found Him to be true to His word! I challenge you to read Psalm 145 and meditate on the words this week.
I love this Catherine - what a terrific tradition! One I want to start for me and my family too.
How amazing to see how such a seemingly simple exercise could produce so much good fruit in your lives! Thank you for sharing this, Catherine! What a neat idea! P.S. I didn’t realize you had a 6 yr old—so cool to see how it impacted him! ❤️