Do you remember working with iron filings in an elementary school science class? Or maybe you had a science kit at home that included various magnets and a container of iron filings.
When you pour the filings on a surface, there is no rhyme or reason. Just a chaotic mass of filings. But when you move a magnet under the surface, things begin to happen. The filings come into alignment and beautiful design emerges from the chaos.
I was thinking of this simple science exercise not too long ago. No illustration is perfect, yet there is a real sense in which our lives can be like this.
From Chaos to Design
We have many elements and aspects which make up our lives. It can really seem chaotic and even out of control. Yet, like the formless and chaotic condition of the earth seen in Genesis 1:2, God is able to bring alignment, creativity, and design in our lives.
The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. - Genesis 1:2 NKJV
As we yield to Him, God will work beneath the surface of our lives, using the “magnetic field” of His presence and power to transition us from chaos to design. My desire is for everything in my life to come into alignment with His original intent and purpose for me.
Here are just a few ways in which we can position ourselves before the Creator, flowing with Him. He gives us the grace and truth and time to see the design manifest.
- Welcome the Holy Spirit to hover over your life. As He shows you, remove those things from your life which grieve Him. Seek to consistently be filled with the Spirit (Eph. 5:18).
- Listen for the “executive” word of the Lord to come into your life – into your setting. The next verse in Genesis chapter 1 says that God began to speak: “Let there be …” Honor and obey the Voice. The Spirit and the Word recreate.
- This will be contended for (this shows us its value and potential): increase personal worship in your life. Worship is heart-based. It is also atmospheric. It is the atmosphere in which God acts. It’s highly authoritative as He is enthroned on praise (see Ps. 22:3).
- Let’s trust God and flow with His aligning energies in our lives. He gives us the capacity to change what needs to be changed. Just the thought of desiring His aligning work in our lives is a step towards the beautiful outcome.
