O – God in Odd Spaces {26 Surprising Ways to Encounter God, A-Z}
“Uniqueness is what makes you the most beautiful.”
– Lea Michele
O—Oddities
Normal doesn’t always catch our eye. When things or people are in place, in order, we tend not to notice.
What we do notice is the unusual.
To God, we’re all unusual. He notices us.
- When we feel slightly out of place, he knows.
- When our life isn’t quite in order, he cares.
- When things aren’t going as we planned, he pays attention.
Try This
Look around your physical space. What’s out of place? Is something not where it’s supposed to be? Ask yourself why. And what you plan to do about it, if anything.
Then pray about your spiritual space.
- Is there an unusual person in your circle that needs your attention?
- Does someone’s circumstances need your prayer time?
- Is God showing up in an odd place where you least expected?
- What feels off in your own soul? Can you encounter God there?
Just as we can’t predict life, we can’t predict where God will plant gifts of grace for us. Look for his gifts of presence and love in the odd spaces of your life today. Be grateful for the peculiar and uncommon ways that he is showing up.
Learn More
- Who Will Be Your Divine Encounter?
Let each intersection with another person be a delightful encounter, intentionally orchestrated by God. - Find the Weird One
Once a week, we find Darryl sitting alone by his dirty window with the door unlocked. We may not know it, but he’s just what we need. - When Spirits Intersect
Something felt different with her. Sacred meetings are thin places, the spiritual world intersecting with the physical world, reminding us that there is more.
* * *
What feels out of place in your world today? How do you see God at work in it? Please share in the comments.
Coming up tomorrow:
- P – Portals
Where are the thin places where God has a foot in the door in your life?
If you’d like to receive 26 Surprising Ways by email, sign up here.
- N – Now Is Where God Is {26 Surprising Ways to Encounter God, A-Z}
- P Is for “Portals” – How to Find Openings with God
I love looking for God in the “odd” spaces of life. It’s amazing what you can find when you seek Him out daily! 🙂
I agree, Nicki. As I look around me today, I see God in many places in my natural world showing himself sovereign over all he created.
Don’t you just love where God shows up along the way? He continues to surprise and delight by making his sacred appearances in the most unusual places …
His majesty, always on display. His loving care evident, bountifully.
Beautifully stated, Linda. God’s majesty is always on display. We just have to have open eyes to see it! Thanks for sharing.
Lisa- Lots of odd things happen to me. I usually grunt and wonder why. I never looked at it in this light before, what is God trying to tell or teach me? Maybe it’s just a gift of love, which needs to be unwrapped.
Great post!
#TestimonyTuesday
Julie
Unwrapping his gifts of love…yes, Julie. I need to do that with some of the “gifts” I’ve received lately that don’t at first appear to be gifts. 🙂
I like to do this, to try to see His hand where I least expect it. He works through details to speak directly to our hearts. I love that about God! Glad to land on your post today, Lisa! #RaRaLinkup
Thanks for these encouraging words, Kelly. Seeing God where we least expect Him doesn’t always come naturally to us. But I do love that our God is a God of great surprises if we’ll stay awake!
Good advice. It’s the wise person that looks for the details of the what’s and the why’s in life.
That means you’re wise, Floyd. I see you looking for God in the nooks and crannies of your life’s stories, and we’re all the wiser for how you share them with us.
It is so amazing when God reveals Himself in odd places Lisa. Even my blender;) I feel I am a pretty observant person. I guess that’s why I am a huge fan of Sherlock Holmes. However, I love it when God surprises and shows Himself to me. It is a comforting reminder that God is watching over me. I love what you share here about searching your spiritual space. It is so important to take time to search our hearts and allow God to reveal His leading. Thank you for sharing this beautiful post reminding us of God’s grace. I hope you have a fantastic week and may God richly bless you and yours!
PS.. You don’t even taste the kale in my smoothies;) Blessings
Ah, Sherlock. Maybe I need to take a few more clues from him and you, Horace. 🙂 Some things I’m observant about; other things, not. I do want to see God’s hand over all things though!
I’m going to give you the benefit of the doubt and trust that your smoothies are delicious. If I ever get the opportunity, I’d love to try one. 🙂
That is so true and I love he notices me in the odd places.
I love that, too, Debbie. He notices us, even when we’re not noticing him!
I love your practical applications in this series, Lisa. I think for most of my life I have felt “odd” myself and out of place, but it’s a comfort to know that God doesn’t see me as odd and He even seeks me out to lavish love on me. I love Lea’s quote. 🙂 Thank you for all these encouraging encounters with God! Blessings and hugs to you!
Thanks for your encouraging words, Trudy. I wonder if the majority of us see ourselves as odd. Which means, who are the “normal” people? Do they realize they’re the minority, which makes them the odd ones and us the normal ones? ha. I do love, too, that God purposely made us the way we are, and loves us because of that!
Hoe right you are, we notice the odd and not normal more than the normal. Thanks for reminding me to be on the look out for God in the odd places.
You’re welcome, Theresa. I guess that’s why “news” is always the most sensational stuff–it’s the out of the ordinary. But with God, even the ordinary can be extraordinary.
Loved it! Thank you, Lisa! I love coming to your place, here’s always something wonderful waiting for me. Thanks so much! Stay blessed! So very blessed.
Thank you, Mari-Anna. That’s how I feel when I visit your place as well. 🙂 God has been good to connect us through our blogs.