Be Surprised by God

Press the play button to watch the video above or press 'more' to read the transcript of the daily devotion below. Please read Acts 10:1-20 (use your own Bible or use the link above to access the in-App Bible).

I wonder what is important in your relationship with God. Are there things that you cherish? Things that you might consider as the only way to pray, to read the Bible, to ‘do church’! Do you also consider the way other people do things the wrong way. I am sure none of you have ever uttered the words - ‘That’s not how to do a, b, or c!’ Or even - ‘How can they call themselves Christian when they do x, y or z!’

One of the delights of travelling is to experience another way of life. However, as an Army wife I enjoyed knowing that church would always be what I expected because I always took my own Vicar with me. (My husband was the Vicar and really he was taking me with him!) But occasionally he would be whisked off to dangerous places and I would be left with a stranger leading Sunday worship. It was always different because we all have our own way of doing things in church. Sometimes it was good and sometimes it was brilliant: a new flavour was being offered. Occasionally we can be so set in our ways that God has been shut out! (There was only one time I threw my teddy’s out of the pram and decamped to another church, but I returned - that is a much longer story than I have space for here.)

In today’s reading God shows Peter that He is doing a new thing. So often we box God into a very small box, but He is much bigger than we know or understand. I am very grateful for all those times when He has surprised me: in the Sunday service on Radio 4, in the liturgy of a Greek Orthodox Church, in the quiet of a Benediction service in central Munich, in the exuberant energy of children at School Worship.

I wonder what is in the way of God surprising you this Lent? I would encourage you to set aside any prejudices you have about church, God, worship and prayer. Allow God in. Be surprised by God.

Let us pray: Father God we are sorry for those times when we think we know best. Help us this Lent to meet Jesus in a new way. May we be courageous in allowing the Holy Spirit to surprise us. Amen