God’s moving

We often say “God is moving”. What do we mean by this? What are we inferring or referring to?

Often we mean that there are good circumstantial things coming to pass. The offering was good, the service was full of passion or there were new visitors. However we are discounting both the depth and breadth of what God is doing when we only refer to circumstantial things. Other times when we say “God is moving” it means that we may have a great deal of positive emotional energy regarding how the circumstances of life appear to be trending. And so when things by and large seem to be “going our way” (i.e. there are more things turning out like we want them to than not) then we say “God is moving” This misses the entire reality of what God’s moving really entails.

God’s moving is really the movement of the Holy Spirit. Furthermore the movement of the Holy Spirit is always God moving on the hearts of people. When the offering plate is fuller than last week it is because God prompted people to give and they agreed with the Holy Spirit and obeyed. When the service is full of passion (if it is genuine and not contrived or mere emotionalism) then we can be sure what has happened is that God’s Spirit moved on the hearts of people to draw them to repentance, trust, worship, adoration, thanksgiving, etc. In addition, not only did God speak, but the people listened and obeyed. If there are new visitors in our church services, we can be assured it is because God was “moving” on their hearts and convincing them of a need to gather with God’s people and seek Him and in particular He has led them to our congregation; and again in this instance the evidence of God’s moving is the people’s obedience.

So “God’s moving” is the convicting, convincing, rebuking, training, drawing of the Holy Spirit in the hearts and lives of people coupled by their faith, trust, brokenness, humility and obedience. However God is always working, every day, every moment for our salvation and to shape and form us into His likeness and image, so if we do not see or hear or say often “God is moving” the reality is that people (maybe me?) are not listening to and heeding the work of God. Indeed the Holy Spirit is always at work, the question is are we also about the Father’s business and are we keeping in step with His Spirit? I want to see God at work always, but am I agreeing with all that God is saying to me? Please, Holy Spirit come!