Enabling the Moment
I came across this stepping stone while walking the Botanic Gardens the other day. It was tucked back in a corner that I hadn't yet explored. Ever since it's discovery the word enabling has been rolling around in my head. Most often when we hear this word it's with a negative connotation. We feel the need to have an intervention; change a bad behavior. When in fact, it is a positive word. To enable someone is to give them power, to make possible or ready; to equip them.
When I checked out the purpose of the Enabling Garden, I learned that it is a "hands-on teaching garden that encourages gardening for all ages & abilities." It illustrates techniques that can be adapted to any home garden. They are equipping people, making it possible to enjoy gardening in their own home.
Isn't that the goal of parenting? We want to enable our children to become functional, contributing adults.
Isn't that a desired result in marriage? A partnership that lovingly supports each other's goals; enabling them to be the best they can be.
And at our places of employment, we want to enable our employees & co-workers to accomplish tasks befitting of their position.
Enabling is a good thing.
What about our walk with God?
How do we enable moments with God?
In my own walk with the Lord, I find myself striving. I know what it looks like to be a Christian; how I'm supposed to act & think. I know that I am supposed to have quiet time, go to church and to serve. But eventually I run our of juice, wondering why God is quiet. Why can't I hear You? Why am I not changing? Growing? Sometimes I feel like one of those swimmers in a endless pool. Have you seen one of those things? It's a little bigger than an adult with a jet at one end to swim against. Always swimming but never getting anywhere. I want to get somewhere. I want to be aware of moments with God, embracing those moments. But how do I enable those moments without striving?
Throughout Scripture we are given important direction when it comes to enabling moments with God.
In Nehemiah, the Levites tell the people to "Be still." (8:11)
In Psalm 4:4, we're told to meditate and "Be still."
Jesus told the storm in Mark 4:39, "Be still!"
Finally and probably the most well known...
Be still and know that I am God.
Psalm 46:10
Enable a moment with God by simply being still. Turn off the noise. Quiet your mind. Breathe.
Because here is what I am learning...
God is able. He is the one who will do the work. He is the one who will speak, comfort and move. When we are still, we are really enabling the Holy Spirit to take full responsibility for the moment we are embracing and the work that needs to be done in our hearts & lives.
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that is in work in us.
Ephesians 3:20
He enables us through His power!
Just be still.
Enable the moment.
For His Glory.
"Desiring and doing His will is not your responsibility to discover; it is His responsibility to reveal."
~Priscilla Shirer
