God Moments 

Written By: Perla Aviles

I will be honest with you guys and tell you how excited I was to write this week. I have been occupied with ministry and being a mom, and a wife, and everything else in life but I decided to take some resting time and refocus, and replenish myself. I would say that God has been working in my life in a very special way. I have been in awe of the Lord in this season and in the new ways He has been revealing Himself to me. He has been adjusting so many things in my life like I have stated in previous blogs but when I tell you it has been worth it! It has been!

I have seen parts of the bigger picture and I have been able to put together the “why’s.” I have spoken many times of the hard seasons because I was in a very painful transition in my life recently that hurt me very deeply. Now I’m in that healing season. Finding God in ways I have never seen Him before. Maybe you guys are in the middle of that season right now. 

What I can tell you is that, in any season of your life that you might find yourself right now, there are God moments happening all around you at any given time. God moments are personal encounters when God’s love, purpose and/or His presence may be revealed to you through a message, a song, a conversation, or even an event that God allows you to witness. It could also be words of affirmation through someone that randomly comes to uplift and encourage you when you’re going through difficult seasons. The result of these moments are a deep conviction and awakening within your heart knowing that God is somehow interceding for you, that God is pleading your case, listening to you and is there for you. 

When these moments come to my life I can’t help but be in awe of God and how thoughtful He is towards us. Those moments often come with peace that surpasses all understanding and assurance that God is personally working on my behalf; that everything is going to be okay. However, I can tell you guys that so many times I have missed these God moments all because I was distracted with the noise of life and routine. I missed those moments where the Lord wanted to reveal Himself to me in some way. 

I remember when I used to take the bus back in the days when I didn’t have a vehicle. I used to take about 3 buses to go to college when I graduated high school because I was attending a college almost 2 towns away from mine. Whenever I would be too distracted  I would miss the bus while looking at my phone or simply going into a store because I thought I had enough time. There were times when I would wake up late and I knew that I was going to miss the bus because of how time-sensitive public transportation is. This would often cost me my time and sometimes even money if I had to take an Uber to make it to my destination on time. Likewise, there are moments that Lord permits and designs just for young often missing them could cost you wisdom that you could’ve used later on that day, that week, that month, or even that year. These moments are time-sensitive because maybe, just maybe, that opportunity might not present itself to you again. 

One of the ways the Lord has revealed himself to me lately is through casual conversations with friends while doing my hair. I have had one of the most meaningful conversations while sitting at a hair salon chair spending time with my sister in Christ, talking about the goodness of God and struggles of life. I remember a particular day when I thought I was just going to do my hair and spend time with two of the most special people God has permitted for me to get close to. They have been true sisters in Christ in this season. As we sat there and joked around for some time, our conversation all of a sudden shifted and we began to talk about the struggles we were experiencing. One moment that resonated with me was their discussion about change and their growth within the last year. 

God had changed them and situations for their good. He has been continuously working in their lives even when it didn’t seem like it. I felt this deep conviction to reflect on my own journey and my growth within the last year. This was a God moment. God was revealing His faithfulness to me. Even when I looked back and thought about the multiple changes and transitions I have been through, I couldn’t help but smile. I noticed that through each season I was truly never alone. God was holding my hand. 

Another moment that is still printed in my mind was during a Bible study with one of those sisters I described previously. Each Monday we have dedicated our time to study the word of God and reflect on it together. We are currently reading a book and we picked up a random chapter by “coincidence.” We decided to meet late one evening at a Dunkin donuts near her house. While all the staff were cleaning all around us near closing time, there were tears flowing down our faces all because the chapter we decided to read was so accurate and applicable to our season. 

That was a God moment. The Holy Spirit began to touch our hearts and speak to our situation. God met us right where we were. At a Dunkin. Late at night. While the staff were cleaning around us. There was blasting music from the speaker and somehow, someway our spiritual ears were opened and our spiritual ears were opened and our physical ears were closed. We were able to tune out the distractions around us to meet with Jesus right where we were.

This sounds a lot like Mary and Martha. Luke described this beautiful story that I personally love. Some days I am Martha agitated and concerned over every detail. The perfectionist in me becomes quickly anxious attempting to keep it all together in every area of  my life. But I prefer to aim to be like Mary.  Maybe she didn’t have it all together like her sister wanted to but she was captivated by the presence of God revealed in flesh through Jesus. Jesus had her undivided attention. 

Martha was attempting to serve in the best ways she knew how, taking care of the chores and making sure things were tidy and perfect. As a mom and a wife, one way I serve God is through the way I keep my house clean and the way I care for my family. But there are moments where I would rather be at His feet. Listening to His voice, patiently waiting for his wisdom to speak to my heart, to my situation. Even in the moments of cleaning, as I wash dishes or pick up sticky toys from the ground, He meets me there too. However, sometimes the chaos can wait. The distractions can wait. There is a beautiful Hymn by Fanny Crosby that says “Take the world, but give me Jesus…” I want him to have my undivided attention. I don’t want to miss those moments when He visits me and reveals Himself to me. 

How many times have we limited God and the ways He can reveal Himself to us? How many times have we missed a God moment only because the distractions of life were somehow louder than His voice? How many times has the hurt and suffering hindered our ability to get close to Him?

This is the beautiful thing about faith. Faith is not a straight line. Faith doesn’t always make sense and is not always logical. But when you have it, when you fix your eyes on Jesus the author and finisher of that faith, He will meet you right where are you are. When you make a decision to put your faith in action and actively pursue to encounter Jesus in the midst of your chaos, He will meet you right there where you are. 

David wrote on Psalm 139:7-10

“I can never escape from your Spirit!
    I can never get away from your presence! 

If I go up to heaven, you are there;
    if I go down to the grave,[a] you are there.

If I ride the wings of the morning,
    if I dwell by the farthest oceans,

even there your hand will guide me,
    and your strength will support me.”

Right where you are at this very second, God can meet you there too. Maybe you’re going through a season of your life where you lack motivation and strength. Maybe you feel like your faith is being tested and you want to give up and quit. The best advice I can give you is to RESIST!

Hold for a God moment and resist the urge to put your faith on what your eyes can see. Don’t let Him pass by you in your season. He can meet you whenever and wherever. Reflect on what has kept you here so far. Reflect on the moments that God has given you that maybe you have taken for granted. When everything else tries to break you and distract you, ENDURE!

Endure in the Merriam-Webster dictionary means “continuing firm or resolute through trials and difficulties.” When you don’t miss God moments in your life you will be able to continue to be “firm” and unwavering “through trials.” When you have been battling or simply distracted. When you’re seeking to be replenished, He shows up in unexpected ways and gives you the uplifting that you so desperately need in that moment. 

Don’t miss those moments! If you open your spiritual eyes you will see God in your everyday life and in everything around you. Jesus will speak to you in any way possible when you’re willing, open and available. Through the leaves falling off the trees during fall season but the branches remain standing firm all year long.  In the way a stranger randomly smiled at you when you were having a bad day. In the way you received that unexpected yet uplifting message you needed. In the way the air fills your lungs without you having to consciously think about it. In the small details of a scenery that you probably did not notice before. In the small acts of kindness God allows you to do for others. In the testimony someone decided to share with you. He is ALWAYS meeting you THERE. Don’t miss your God moment! Keep your eyes and your ears OPEN and connected to the Lord through the Holy Spirit within you. 

I want to leave you guys with a quote as always  

With love, 

Perla