*Guest Post by Renée McIntosh
It’s a wonderful thing to receive an invitation! Invitations communicate that we are wanted and chosen. However, there is none more special than when God is doing the inviting. Something amazing happens, when spending time in God’s word, we learn to respond to His invitations. A precious relationship develops with those daily choices. Dietrich Bonhoeffer describes this ongoing relationship with our “Inviting God”: “In our meditation, we ponder the chosen text on the strength of the promise that it has something utterly personal to say to us for this day and for our Christian life, that it is not only God’s word for the Church, but also God’s word to us individually.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together
God’s Quiet Invitation
We are called to a rhythm of life to take time to stop, be still, and listen for that often hidden, quiet voice of invitation. When my work gets hard—circumstances become difficult, schedules get full—more than at any other time, I need to hear His voice for that day. As a result, I often come back to Jesus’ words in Matthew 11:28-30. He calls me back to that rhythm. He invites me (and you) with these encouraging words:
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me–watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll earn to live freely and lightly” (The Message).
Ever since that first invitation that drew our heart into relationship with Him, God continues to invite us. Even though we might ignore His regular invitation, He keeps inviting us. Daily He reminds us of His presence, His leading, and His provision for what we need.
In Deuteronomy 17:18-20, we read God’s invitation to the Kings of Israel to experience His presence:
“And when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself in a book a copy of this Law, approved by the Levitical priests. And it shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God by keeping all the words of this law and these statutes, and doing them, that his heart may not be lifted up above his brothers, and that he may not turn aside from the commandment either to the right hand or to the left, so that he may continue long in his kingdom, he and his children, in Israel.”
Their response to His invitation involves three things:
Writing out the Scriptures for themselves – a slow process of internalizing what God says in how to live and lead God’s people.
Reading their hand-written words all the days of their lives – a constant reminder of the benefits of being a king who walked with God.
Learning from the Scriptures – how to deal with pride and other issues of the heart.
God invites ME!
Through many years of walking with the Lord, I’ve discovered countless invitations from a God who loves me. He continues to “woo” me back into a right and deeper relationship with Him. He knows where my heart might be straying at the moment. Therefore, these God-given invitations have the potential to grow me into the character of Jesus as He calls me out of my “doing” and “striving.” His invitations powerfully refine what’s in my heart, shape me, and transform me as I respond to Him in my ongoing spiritual journey.
Consequently, if I sit long enough in God’s presence, I might hear Him inviting me: to listen, to trust, to remember, to love, to forgive, or to rest.
Recently I’ve been invited to WAIT. I’m waiting for a son to return to the Lord . . . waiting for recovery from recent back surgery . . . waiting for clear direction. Without doubt, David’s words in Psalm 27:14 encourage me to “wait expectantly.” This verse tells me to be strong, to let my heart take courage, and to wait for the Lord. Waiting expectantly demands my alertness to my present situation with an eye of watchfulness that God might do something even beyond what I could imagine. So I wait for my God who is a sure and steadfast anchor of my soul. This anchor is built on the goodness of God’s character and gives me hope! In conclusion, I know He is working on my behalf. In His perfect timing, He will give what I need most.
Living With Eternal Intentionality®
Consider what He might be saying to you today—what is His invitation to you?
*Meet my dear friend Renée.
Renée McIntosh is a wife, mother of 3 grown children, and a grandmother of 5. She has been on staff with Cru for 45 years – 22 of those years serving in Eastern Europe, and now lives in Franklin, Tennessee. She works alongside her husband, Dorsey on Faculty Commons, involved in International sending. Renee’s greatest passion is studying God’s Word and finding personal application for life and ministry. Her journey with the Lord has deepened through both life’s disappointments and joys. She loves cooking, hospitality, and coming alongside women in personal development, mentoring, and coaching.
