When is the last time you experienced God’s presence in a real and tangible way? Let’s think about that together today. I’m reminded of a conversation I had with a friend of mine.
Bob told me about a visit to Vietnam where he met with a leader of an underground Christian church. This leader, who had spent a large part of his life in prison for his faith, told Bob many stories of the growth of Christians. Approximately 1 million believers met in hidden huddles all around the country. “What everybody wants is to see God move,” the pastor explained.
And isn’t that the desire of your heart…to see God move in your life and in the lives of those you love? Jesus reminds us, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working” (John 5:17). Always at His work. Always. And yet, do we expect to see it? Are you and I willing to raise our expectations and anticipate seeing God’s glory through His work in our lives today? Are we willing to raise our expectations to experience moments of sudden glory where God makes His presence known?
I sat in a group of 55 Baby Boomers as Bob shared his experience with this Vietnamese pastor. As he closed, Bob opened up the floor for others to tell of a time when they experienced God moving in their lives.
“When I was sixteen…” one began.
“When I was twenty-seven…” another chimed in.
“Several years ago…” still another shared.
I was struck. We should have all been waving our hands and excited to begin with these words… “Yesterday God showed me…” “This morning God revealed to me…”
Why do we have to go so far back into the archives of our lives to look for that one time we recognized God moving in our lives? I dare say that we miss the glory moments that flash before us and even linger around us because we don’t expect them to be there. Click & Tweet!
I want to challenge you to make a list. Get a notebook or a journal and write A Sudden Glory across the top. Then begin chronicling how God makes Himself known to you today…and tomorrow…and the next day.
David wrote:
“I will exalt you, my God the King;
I will praise your name forever and ever.
Every day I will praise you and extol your name forever and ever.
Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;
his greatness no one can fathom.
One generation will commend your words to another;
they will tell of your mighty acts.
They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty,
and I will meditate on your wonderful works.
They will tell of the power of your awesome works,
and I will proclaim your great deeds.
They will celebrate your abundant goodness
and joyfully sing of your righteousness. (Psalm 145:1-7 TNIV)
That is a party I’d like to attend! David recognized what God was doing in his own life. He listened to what God was doing in other people’s lives. And then he invited all to join together and tell about the glory moments in a grand celebration. Merriment at its best. “Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story!” (Psalm 107:2 TNIV).
And I would love to hear yours!
Dear Father, open my eyes, my ears, my heart. Help me to see You working in my life today. Please don’t let me get so involved with the busyness of life that I miss the Source of Life. I’m looking. I’m listening. I’m paying attention. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Today, I want you to pay attention. Look for God working in your life. Then comment on this post letting me know how you saw God today. It could be in the laundry room or the prayer room. Let’s not limit His presence!
My book, A Sudden Glory: God’s Lavish Response to Your Ache for Something More, is all about raising your expectations to experience the full, abundant life that Jesus came to give. If you’ve settled for a ho-hum, so-so Christian life, it is time to start enjoying the abundant life Jesus came to give. God wants you to experience His presence every day through moments of sudden glory where He makes His presence known. Ready to get started?
Download a free sample chapter or watch the videos on my website! The book also includes a Bible Study Guide in the back that is perfect for groups!
And for you married gals, if apathy and indifference has crept into your marriage and you don’t know what to do about it, check out my book Lovestruck and get out of that funk!
Comments 54
Can i get a free download of a chapter please. Thank u. Have a blessed day
The first time ever, recently, my pastor told me that the Holy Spirit put my name on his mind to ask me to help with a ministry to sell brats and soda. I found that my grandchildren whom I have been praying for their salvation were involved with that ministry. I was so excited to see that that are involved with a Christian group. ☺️ Then, I realized why the Holy Spirit put my name on my pastors mind. They have been going to a Lutheran Church to get confirmed. I did also, but I didn’t learn about salvation there. I accepted Jesus as my Savior when a man that stood up in my sister’s wedding several years later explained the plan of salvation to me in my backyard that day. ☺️
I am not able to see my grandchildren otherwise die to this Covid-19 situation..Their mom’s immune system is low risk, so they don’t have me over to visit. Just knowing that they are involved with a real Christian ministry was exciting for me to see. ☺️ And that God wanted me to see that He is answering my prayers on their behalf was so exciting too. ☺️
That is so wonderful to know your grand children are in Gods hands, indeed your prayers have been answered. Amen
Every morning I read The Jesus Calling devotional book to help focus and touch on what you are saying about having A Sudden Glory on a daily basis by experiencing His Presence. This morning before I read your email I noted in my journal “Come to Me. Experience My Love in everything” As I read your message I started weeping with joy that what I wrote was exactly what you shared in your email and confirmed that what I wrote was my personal Rhema Sudden Glory experience.
God met me today as I lay in bed talking with Him before getting up to start my day. How precious each day is that starts with a conversation with Him. He reminded me that no matter what is going on around me that He is in control. He prompted me to pray for those rioting and destroying property across our nation; that they would have opened hearts to start having conversations with others instead of yelling and screaming at anyone who has a different view of things.
Always enjoy your insight.
.I heard you speak in Eliot, Maine where I live.
Always worth hearing.
Polly Knight
I am so very blessed, today and everyday. Today is my 70th birthday, I can’t believe I’m saying that. My husband and I took an early walk in the woods, the sun was getting hot but the cool of the trees and breeze was so refreshing. I felt The Lord all around us, blessing this walk, blessing this day. He reminds me that He is also in the simple along with the complexity of my life. I pray that my eyes will always look for His blessings each day.💕
Happy birthday Karen!
Thank you Lynne, you are so kind. Have a great day in The Lord ❤️
Happy 70th Birthday!!!
Happy birthday!!
Excellent devotional Sharon. A sudden glory, every day! I’ve marked the bigger ones in a book but the everyday manifestations of His Presence have been cherished in my heart only. I will get a notebook, call it “A Sudden Glory” and record these there. Thank you for the suggestion, and keep up the good work!
God blessed me with a reason to laugh this morning, He showed me His love through my husband coming to my home office to tell me he was off to a job. He started to walk but came back said I need a hug. We hugged and he prayed. Such a sweet moment in time. I felt loved and joyous.
Yesterday I hiked up to a mountain top. I saw birds, flowers, butterflies and a beautiful view. Clouds, mountains and trees. I felt God’s presence there, as I always do in nature. This morning I woke up with 2 doe and a fawn in the yard. Chickadees and hummingbirds. A reminder of God’s creation. Needed in these days of uncertain times. A reminder to have faith that God is with us and to trust that God will help us all through this time.
I love this! Nature is not worried, seeing His beauty and the creatures surely is a great reminder, He will take care of us 💕
Starting that journal today with expectations.
God is good. Thank God for answering prayers for my brother and family . His is presented and always helping me . Amen .
Would like a free chapter of “A Sudden Glory”. Thanks! I’m 84 year old woman and teach a mixed Sunday School Class.
Author
You can find it on http://www.sharonjaynes.com/store
Click on the book
I had been talking to God about obtaining another version of the Bible…NLT to be exact, just because I wanted to read Scripture in a different version and compare it to my NIV. I was using my phone but love a real book. I don’t need another Bible, in fact, God just gave me a new one two years ago when I needed to have a fresh start…it was right out of a recycle bin!!! Cool!!! I didn’t want to spend big bucks, it just didn’t seem right but if I was to purchase one, it would be in small print…most inexpensive ones are. Anyway, last week I was second hand shopping with my daughter in law and she said, ‘did you check out the books?’…short story…there it was, an NLT for $1!!! AND sure enough, it’s small print but it was God’s sudden glory showing up and teaching me that He IS listening to every heart cry I have. He has used the added notes to speak life into my heart today and hope for tomorrow.
Thank you for sharing the great stories with us. My story is that I am 88 years old and have never had any surgery done in my entire life.
The Lord has blessed me with good health and in return, I am a Disciple serving Him. i endeavor each and every day to help the homeless
and needy people in our area. I give them money for food and clothing. My wife and i leave clothing at the Homeless Department here at
home. Prayer is a daily part of my everyday life, Nay bless you.
In Jesus name I pray,
Joe
Just a few minutes ago, I shared with my cousins how the Holy Spirit showed me a simple truth in my prayer closet that has transformed me completely. It’s amazing how we sometimes ignore the little things in life! God bless you for this timely devotional.
This morning God revealed Himself to me as I had some free time to catch up with my daily devotions I receive via email. One of them is a 10 part study on “Do It Afraid”. I was able to read and catch up with the majority of them. He revealed to me – I can do it afraid and overcome fear, that worry is part of satan’s plan to destroy me and it is the enemy’s poison, and by worrying I am only tormenting myself. I am thankful to women like yourself and Joyce Meyer who speak the truth and help all of us to see God in all that we do! I am thankful I can feel His presence working in my life at this very moment!
Had to take my sick little puppy outside in the middle of the night… felt sleepy and grumpy until I looked up and the sky …. oh wow! Magnificent stars, moon, clouds… just me and the Lord. It was so special!
Every time I think about the miracle that took place15 years ago with my husband’s sobriety, I am grateful to God. I see God working in the lives of others as I listen to testimonials in AA meetings. I watch women who have experienced the healing powers of God at Mercy Multiplied going from a dead end caused from abuse and destruction to redemption. Yes, all we need to experience God’s glory is to trust, surrender, believe, receive. Lives will be transformed!
God is so gracious to love me and walk with me through the waters as it says in Isaiah 43:2 (NIV)
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.
His word, His voice is continuously alive in my my mind and heart as I seek Him daily.
Thank you
During my morning devotions God made it rain while the sun was brightly shining! I went outside and there was only one dark cloud overhead. The rain was beautiful as the sun’s rays caused each drop to sparkle as it fell. Also, one of steers, who had wandered off three days ago, was patiently waiting in the corral for morning treats. God brought back our prodigal son! Oh, God is great! God is love! Hallelujah! Maranatha! Glory to God forever!!!
My testimony of what Jesus has done in my life for His glory is highlighted in “I Should Be Dead 1-3” and “Joy In Abuse” at conniegouldblog.simplesite.com.
I believe I am having a glory moment today that I didn’t expect. Yet when I think about the prayers I have recently offered up, I feel today’s new job offer is coming from up above. I am scared to put myself out there in this new position with great responsibility and leave the staff I am comfortable working with now. I don’t imagine I’m going to say no because I think I’ll be selling myself short if I just stay put in the comfort zone and miss out on the new benefits. I will pray and try to have faith that those new benefits will outweigh my many reasonse ( some of them the old, not good enough, not smart enough, not strong enough, will I be happy? I would want to stay put. And it still sticks with me that this definitely is God talking to me, I don’t want to let him down.
This morning I woke up. What a glory moment that was and is every day!! God gives glory moments in every breath, every rain drop, every bird song, and yes, even every tear drop. It is up to us to recognize and accept each and every little bit of glory God provides.
Thanking God for the devotion. I saw the great hand of God in my physiotherapy treatment today. I had femoral fracture April 2019 and had been under going treatment. Today, I was able to do something I have not done since the accident. God is faithful. Only him can do that for me.
Recently I was asked to make a quilt and get paid for it! I have only ever done quilts as gift for family or charity donations. Since my time is limited right now I need to do something fairly simple and the idea came to me were I could combine fabric I have designed myself with that of other pattern designers at Spoonflower to make a really special quilt without all the sewing of small pieces of fabric that I usually do. I thank God for sending this lovely Christian woman to me so I could make this quilt.
The earth orbits this particular area of our universe every year trudging through the debris trail of a comet. The result is an annual display of meteor showers. You sit and wait patiently. You see all the stars that our Lord knows by name. You pray to see one then wait. Then all of a sudden, there’s a stream of light. Another glory moment when you bask in the fact that the God of the universe has given you a small gift for the day.
Hi
Today is the beginning of My Sudden Glory days.
Thank yo for uplifting my spirit.
Yesterday it was a rough day at work and I started to text a girl friend about it. All of that took us to text how great things God have done in our lives and how the every day troubles lead us to Him. We didn’t realize but we were exalting Him and crying experiencing His presence. We felt the warmth of His presence.
I have been inspired today , that God is with me through the storms of life. That no matter what we go through we have to preserve knowing that he is right by our side and he will always be with us. Amen ♥️
Beautiful post. We have an estranged daughter, we were a very close family. Have not seen my grandkids in four years and just saw them in their family picture on social media, I was heartsick, did not recognize the grandkids I babysat. God wrapped me in his arms and directed my thinking to Him. God Bless my glory moment
I experienced God’s presence today because multiple things I read pointed me to the same theme of experiencing God’s presence and works daily. This happens often as multiple things point me to the same verse or message. Its God’s way of reminding me of what is important for that day or season.
I received a phone call at work earlier today from a caller that expressed so much enthusiasm and laughter. I thanked her for it and she said that she likes to choose joy in daily life. What a sweet reminder, especially in uncertain times with health and finances, troubles and woes. I choose joy as well. I choose to share the light that Jesus placed within me with others. You never know when you can brighten someone’s day, just like this lovely woman did with me.
Yesterday was so beautiful, colorful sky in the evening! God is the best painter ever! The sky reminds me that so frequently 🙂
Blessed Morning to all ! I experience God loving care EVERY SINGLE DAY! Each morning I awake, its because of HIS loving care for me. I’m a 2015 survivor of the 100 year flood that happened in Columbia SC. When the flood came that year, there were 4 generations in my home that night. We all survived. I still thank GOD for having his loving arms of protection around us. We were rescued by boat because the flood waters were almost shoulder high. Today and every day I’m thankful for not just my life being spared but the lives of my oldest daughter, my oldest granddaughter and my only great granddaughter. God placed my in a place where I have my own little garden of eden right behind my house. Each morning I get to see God at work while sitting on my patio reading my daily devotional. The wild life is bountiful. Its PEACEFUL. ITS GOD!
I have just finished reading your devotion and pondering your challenge. I brought out my trusty tablet, wrote, “A Sudden Glory” at the top of the page and realized I have already had my first “sudden glory” moment! Mine came in the form of an e-mail from my Pastor. While the content of the e-mail dealt with our shared love of reading, it was his thoughtfulness in taking the time to reach out to me that made me feel the blessing of my faith. I plan to try and document my “sudden glories” day-by-day, knowing they will continue to bless me. Thank you for all the time and effort you and the other contributors to Girlfriends in God put in to each devotion. They are a very necessary part of my day!
“ SEEING GOD IN THE EVERYDAY”
Good morning, first just let me say I saw my god in the glorious sunlight that filled the downstairs this morning; so bright that I could barley see which it was a blessing to open my eyes this morning.
In the past years though I have seen his grace and blessings in my life wether it be my children or god just helping me get through a day. Three weeks ago we were given the news that my daughter has lymphoma cancer but with faith through god we push through with faith and prayer , it is not a easy day , everyday is different but bye my faith in God I see the struggle the mood swings of trying to let’s say be above it and it doesn’t bother me but I know it does bother her for she’s 24yrs. , with a daughter 5 and son 3 yrs. ; wondering to herself. It is hard because my daughter is very private so I don’t ask nothing more in the mornings accept how do you feel and a smile with “Good morning ,” to let her know that I am hear
this is where god wanted me to be even when I kept telling my husband we need to move into our own place but now I see his ( God) plan was for us to be hear for her and her family.
Thank you for the word this morning GOD BLESS 💖🙏🏼
God reminds me of his presence every time I look at a clock showing 7:21. That is the house number I grew up in. It is also where abuse occurred and where I heard God whisper my name. To this day the Lord graciously uses that to remind me He is always with me. He was with me then and he’s with me now. I cannot tell you how many times I glance at the clock just when those numbers appear. I do not stand before it waiting for them. I believe it’s God speaking to me each and every day through this very special connection. It puts a smile on my face and peace in my spirit. Thank you Lord for Your Glory.
For the past 24 years I have suffered with a little known pain syndrome that has meant daily pain medication. About 4 years ago I decided it was time to get off the drugs and with God’s help I did pretty good. My doctor keeps telling me it will be impossible for me to completely do away with them, but recently I made a different decision – with retirement closing in on us I have felt God nudging me to completely get off the medication. Last night before going to sleep I made a commitment with the Lord that, with His help, I was going to be drug free by the time we close this chapter of our lives. During the night God woke with with Philippians 4;13 – “I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me.” I knew immediately He was going to make this journey with me, and together I would be drug free by retirement. Can’t wait to do this in His strength and not my own. Today’s devotional was just what I needed – a reminder our Heavenly Father is always at work on our behalf. What could be better! Thank you
Since I read your GIG email on this topic, I’ve been thinking about writing down sudden glories and then today at my local library, I saw book by Ross Gay The Book of Delights which is collection of 102 days of every day delights he saw last year. I’m excited and encouraged by you and him to write down sudden glories and delights God gives me as well. The preface of his book hooked me to read the book and gave me hope that other people will “delighted” 🙂
I have end stage arthritis in many of my joints at 50, and my knees & shoulders & wrists are bone on bone. I had outpatient surgery on both knees this summer for pain relief and it’s not working, so I prayed for God to give me strength to bear it and get out of my wheelchair today to do dishes – a little bit at a time. While I can only be up about 10-12 minutes, He has blessed me twice and I’m almost finished. That’s how I’ve seen God work today.
I have been thinking about retiring for a while now and just could not decide if it was the right thing to do I had been praying for God to really give me a peace that would show me if it was in his will and this week something happened that confirmed it was time for me to close this door and see what door God wants to open for me. I love him so much and want to know that I am in his will. Thank you for all you do
I woke up thinking about the pumpkin, mature and beautiful in color…
attached to it’s vine. I taught along side a male teacher in a public
school and he would plant a pumpkin vine at the foot of his mail box.
everyday he would observe the changes and share them with his
kids and even have them over to see his harvest then have hot dogs
on a toasted bun across the street at a little park. Mothers came, too.
What a beautiful experience it was. Glory to God!
Please add my email to your distribution list. Thank you very much and God bless
I was wondering about true love. And I happened to be holding a razor somehow and starting a new hope journal as per Gods wishes. Ha ha it’s an inside real experience so it causes wonder and laugh
I’m an assault survivor who awoke from this in the hospital alone. I experienced some damage and couldn’t remember. Years later I’ve remembered and realized. God brought me a real live teddy bear in my dog, my dogs look like a teddy bear and their protectors too. It always amazes me how God comforts. Glory be to God so beautiful amazing thank you
I wanted to add to my previous story. I love God and have so many awesome stories of Gods care. After the assault I couldn’t remember. Yet somehow God brought me to a place we’re many were disabled and I spent close to 20 years learning restraints and personal protection methods I had no clue until my memories returned I was amazed. God amazes
I came across this site asking God to let me see his ways he is working.l in this difficult road I. Am walking. Today in prayer, I was meditating on God is for me- in Ps. I heard Jesus say this is how he was able to walk his path he had to walk because he knew in life or death God was for HIM. And I heard the Lord say this is. The same for me and I identified with Jesus.