To believe in something not yet proved and to underwrite it with our lives; it is the only way we can leave the future open.

—Lillian Smith

I taped this quote to my bathroom mirror so I would remind myself this week that it’s exciting to look to the future with an open attitude, to let go and let God share in the destiny.

I’d been thinking about all these issues this week when the story of the Exodus came to me; that well-known trek into the desert Moses made with his fellow Israelites. You may recall that the Hebrew people had long been dominated by the powerful Egyptians, whose enslavement caused great suffering and prevented them from worshiping God in freedom.

If you flip to those early chapters in the book of Exodus you will rediscover that God went to great lengths, not only to convince the Egyptians that Moses’ people should be released, but that He was a powerful God.

To prove the point, God made His presence obvious. He sent to Pharaoh and his people a series of horrific plagues that include the Nile River turning to blood; frog, gnat, locust and fly infestation; the death of enormous numbers of livestock; outbreaks of boils on people and animals; hail storms; and unexplained darkness.

When Pharaoh continued to deny their release, God brought death upon every Egyptian firstborn, whether man or beast, during one long, terrible night. Only then did Pharaoh finally release Moses and his people.

Pretty powerful stuff. Even brutal and terrifying. But rather than focusing on all those astonishing plagues, perhaps the most interesting aspect of this account is the fact that Moses and his band of followers were willing to head into a desert with no map or plan, only the clear sense that God was with them and had worked mightily on their behalf.

I hold a burning desire to see the hand of God in my life in real and practical ways, don’t you? I want to have a clear sense —- a blessed assurance-— that God is working and moving with the same intensity today.

Not only do I long to see evidence of God, but I long to be like Moses. I want to have a heart that is wiling to try new things and go new places even though I might feel unworthy, unprepared, or untrusting at moments. I want discernment. Clarity. Strength. Hope. And some very good humor.

I want God to build in me courage, knowing that He may not reveal every step, but will give me all I need in little pieces. It all begins by simply thinking of Him and actively looking for evidence that He is present and working.

Did you have a job interview and suddenly feel His presence at the very moment you felt the most insecure? Have you suffered a loss so great you have felt at moments you might break —- if it were not for people who suddenly came to you in your time of need? Did you have one longed-for opportunity close, only to have another adventure drop into your lap?

Author A. W. Tozer encourages us to “constantly practice the habit of inwardly gazing upon God and practice a secret communion.”

It is nothing scary or mystical. It will be as wonderful as the name of a friend suddenly coming to mind, a prayer whispered with little thought, the lyrics of an encouraging song spontaneously springing forth as you drive in the car.

May the joy of looking for God be both a conscious and unconscious joy, and may we see God work in startling new ways this week, simply because we are looking.