God's Story: Learning to Recognize God’s Presence

The Christian life is more than being theologically correct or morally upright. At its core, it is about learning to follow Jesus…. God will never call you to a life that requires no faith. If your life no longer requires you to trust Him, it may be a sign that you've drifted from His presence.

REVIEW: Surrender!

READ: Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

DISCUSS: Has there ever been moments in your life when you struggled to trust God’s plan? What did that look like and have you surrendered to His plan?

REVIEW: Focus!

READ: Hebrews 12:2
“We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.”

DISCUSS: What distractions in your life are making it harder to keep your eyes on God? How can we create the space needed to stay focused on Him instead of getting ahead of Him?

REVIEW: Follow.

READ: John 5:39-40
“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about Me, yet you refuse to come to Me that you may have life.”

DISCUSS: How can we follow the teachings of Jesus without losing sight of the heart of His message?

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ASK

What is one practical step you can take this week to follow Jesus more intentionally?

PRAY

Jesus, help us recognize Your presence and acknowledge You in every moment of our lives. Deepen our hunger for You and ignite within us a greater passion for Your presence. Today, we surrender to Your will and trust in Your perfect plan. Guide our thoughts, words, and actions so that they reflect Your love and bring glory to You. In Your name we pray, Amen.

INVITATION TO RESPOND

The invitation today is not to try harder, but to draw closer—to recognize that God is already with you and is inviting you to trust Him…. Here are some ways you can respond this week:

• Surrender: Take time to identify the areas of your life you are still trying to control. Write them down and intentionally give them to God.
• Focus: Create space to remove distractions and fix your eyes on Jesus. Spend intentional time in prayer, Scripture, and worship, allowing God to realign your heart with His.
• Follow: Ask God to show you one step of obedience He is inviting you to take. Following Jesus is not just about knowing His teachings; it is about living them out daily.
• Recognize: Throughout your day, pause and look for evidence of God’s presence. In moments of joy, difficulty, uncertainty, and decision-making, remind yourself that He is near and He is working.
• Trust: Release your need to know every detail of the future and choose to trust the God who already knows the way. Take the plans, fears, and expectations you’ve written down, and allow Him to guide your next steps by prayer and locating scriptures concerning them.

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When you are uncertain: Often the best way to see forward is to look back. When you look back, you discover that you are never alone. God is always present.

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