Trusting in God's Providence
Luann Budd
Practical atheism—saying we believe in God but living our lives as if he doesn't exist—is one of the challenges we face. We believe and then we don't. It was a problem for Peter, too. Remember what Jesus said to him after he tried to walk on water? "You of little faith...why did you doubt?" (Matt 14:31).
We want to live hour by hour aware of God's active presence, but it's challenging. Rolheiser says, "Learning to see the finger of God, divine providence, in the big and small events of our daily lives is the...spiritual exercise we must do to move beyond our practical atheism" (Shattered Lantern, p 170). So how do we learn to see God throughout the day?
Janet McHenry found prayer walking to open her awareness of God's activity in her community. Our Spiritual Disciplines in Community group found beginning our day with praise was a lovely practice that made us more aware of God in the beauty all around us. Prayer walking. Writing a prayer of praise. What might you do this month to strengthen your daily awareness of God's presence and providence in your life?