Friday Fight 263: Echoes of God in Every Soul

Every Friday morning, during my quiet time with the Lord, He faithfully places something on my heart that speaks to the subtle, internal battles many of us face. This week’s fight is about finding God in plain sight, Friday Fight 263.

One of the questions I’m often asked is, “How do I get closer to God?” To answer that, we must first reconsider how we view our relationship with God. For many, it is often a private, individual journey. If that’s you, you may picture an increase in prayer time, more devotionals, or personal goals that you hope will draw you closer to Him. These practices matter, and they do help, but time alone with God is what anchors us. Yet, what if the closeness we’re seeking in private is often revealed in the people right in front of us?

Echoes of God in Every Soul:

Many of us picture closeness with God as a vertical relationship—just God and me. But spiritual growth also requires a horizontal perspective—God, myself, and others. This means recognizing that God often reveals Himself through people. Jesus made this unmistakably clear when He said, “And the King will say, “I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!” Matthew 25:40. In other words, every act of kindness toward another person is an act of devotion and reverence to God Himself.

God often stands right in front of us, using someone else to draw us closer to His heart. If we spend our time judging people, criticizing their flaws, or rehearsing their shortcomings, we miss the echoes of God in every soul. If God calls us to be patient and loving, then loving others brings us just as close to Him as sitting quietly in His presence. When compassion takes the place of critique, every encounter becomes a chance to meet Him.

Think of pursuing God as an active, daily practice of recognizing His presence through people, situations and even the world around us. Every moment of patience, forgiveness, or kindness becomes both an act of worship and a reflection to show His heart. This means you are drawing near to Him all day, every day in the smallest of tasks.

So, consider this: who have you encountered recently who was actually a “doorway” through which God invited you to love Him? When you see every expression of kindness as devotion to God Himself, your daily interactions become a ministry. Suddenly, instead of looking for faults in others, you begin searching for the glimmers of God in them. What a beautiful way that is to give thanks, meeting God through the people around us.

We have the sacred opportunity to walk in the ministry of everyday encounters, where God meets us through others, and where we draw close to Him every time we choose love.

If you wish to support this ministry, please donate here:

https://newlifecv.churchcenter.com/giving/to/god-s-first-responders

In His Grace,

Pastor Shannon

NEWLIFE Calvert