Have you ever gone on a God Hunt? A God Hunt begins when you teach yourself to look for God’s hand at work in the everyday occurrences of your life. Here’s one of my personal God Hunt Sightings:
Having returned home from Africa in April, then having returned home from another trip to California the first part of June, I was behind on my spring gardening chores. So I diligently worked early every morning and in the gloaming light of early evening to catch up, concentrating on the front gardens. This has been a miracle spring—beautiful days, cool weather, NO MOSQUITOES, and long days as the earth moves on its axis toward the summer solstice.
By the time I had worked my way around to the back gardens, the task ahead of me and the goal I had set for myself (having the garden beds all ready for mulching by the end of June) seemed daunting.
Last Saturday afternoon, I breathed one of those unconscious prayers that rise spontaneously from the soul, “Oh Lord, I am going to need some help out here.”
That afternoon, Cirilo Leon, the Mexican man who lives in a room in our basement (David’s brother’s former gardener at their estate up the road), came home early from work. That week, the days had been hot, creeping into the 90s and all wise gardeners did their work early in the cool mornings—Cirilo had been leaving the house at 6:00 a.m. “I have nothing to do; I home early. What do you need me to do?”
I actually can’t afford Cirilo, but because he lives with us rent-free, he mows the lawn and does a few yard chores when he has time (he is the fastest gardener on earth—I swear!). “It’s so hot…” I started to say, but remembered my prayer. “If you want to trench this bed and that bed, that will be a huge help to me.” After all, I am 69, and trenching the beds in these dry conditions—is a lot of work, particularly on that hot day.
A little later I looked out the window, both beds were beautifully trenched, and Cirilo was swinging in the backyard hammock, talking on his cell phone with his family in Oaxaca, Mexico. It was an enchanting picture (since I had also taken a nap in that hammock earlier in the afternoon). I actually think the hammock, purchased decades ago, might have been made in and imported from Mexico.
How often in our lives do we breathe these signal prayers? Frequently these prayers are answered but because there is a gap in time, we forget that we prayed for help and we fail to recognize that God has answered. However, my prayer went up to the heavens and an hour later, without any doing on my part, a scheme was in play. God knows my age; He knew I’d spent the whole morning helping a friend plan and purchase plants for a foundation garden. He also knew I’d spend another two hours in the cooler early evening digging out transplants, digging them in, and watering them.
I prayed; He answered. This probably is the story of all our lives. We are just too stupid or busy or stubborn or neglectful or skeptical or self-centered to make the connection.
Cirilo Leon trenched two garden beds in the back yard. He was an answer to my prayer.
I spy God!
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Award-winning author Karen Mains has long had an interest in spiritual formation and the obedient Christian walk. She has written about the God Hunt in her book by the same name, The God Hunt: The Delightful Chase and the Wonder of Being Found. A hardback copy can be ordered from Mainstay Ministries for $10.00 plus $4.95 shipping and handling. Contact Karen at info@mainstayministries.org and she will be happy to autograph a copy for you.
Karen continues to write content for her Christian blog, “Thoughts-by-Karen-Mains.” In so doing, she desires to touch the lives of Christian women and men and help them find ways to walk closer with the Lord Jesus Christ. In addition, through silent retreats, spiritual teaching, women’s retreats, Christian vacation opportunities, and other ministry activities, Karen helps each Christian woman and man receive vital spiritual food.
Through her Hungry Souls ministry, Karen serves as a spiritual coach to many Christian women and men, and teaches a mentor-writing class. And, through the Global Bag Project, she is working to develop a network of African women who sew exquisite cloth reusable shopping bags, Africa bags. This micro-finance women opportunity helps provide a much-needed sustainable income for struggling African families. For more information on this critically important project, please click here.
For decades, Karen and her husband, David, have served God through religious communications—radio, television, and print publication. They are the co-authors of the Kingdom Tales Trilogy: Tales of the Kingdom, Tales of the Resistance, and Tales of the Restoration. To find many valuable resources for pastors and congregations at the Mainstay Ministries main website, please click here.
Likewise, pastors will find special resources to help them prepare effective, life-transforming Sunday sermons by visiting David Mains’ website by clicking here.
