Fearlessly Courageous
Desk of Dennis Piller
6 15 2026

A Recipe for God to Move Audio Version

I sat in Church, and the word RECIPE kept echoing within me.  What is your recipe for God to move in your heart? 

Acts 2:42-43

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.”

Hebrews 10:24

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.”

What Is Your Recipe?

What?  Recipe for talking to God?  For entering into His presence?  Whoever heard of such a thing?  Ok, now that you have gotten over the shock of it… Do you have one? You know, that favorite thing you offer up to God that seems to put you in the right spirit. That routine, that way of tenderizing your heart and intentionally humbling yourself so you are ready for His presence. Maybe it’s worship music. Maybe it’s sitting quietly with your Bible. Maybe it’s serving others. Maybe it’s simply counting your blessings. I don’t know what it is for you, but I wonder if you know.

Some people wait for a song to take them there. Others wait for a sermon that convicts them or an emotional moment that stirs something inside. But shouldn’t our hearts already have a pathway to God? Shouldn’t we have a way of intentionally bowing low before Him, not because circumstances force us there, but because we desire Him?

The believers in Acts did. They devoted themselves to teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, and prayer. And what happened? They were filled with awe.

Awe.

Did I say awe?

When was the last time you were in awe of something God did? No, really. When was the last time you stopped and said, “God, that was You.” And if you can’t think of anything, what does that reveal?

Because maybe the problem isn’t that God has stopped moving.

Maybe we’ve stopped paying attention. Or worse we stopped sending him invitations.

You might say, “What blessings?” And I would gently tell you, perhaps it’s time to repent because we’ve gone blind. Blind to the air we breathe. Blind to the blood pumping through our veins. Blind to the spouse beside us, the children who call us, the friends who pray for us, and the church family that carries us.

How many things are you thankful for? And how often do you actually tell Him?

Tell them.

I’m not trying to scold you. Honestly, I have to start with myself. That’s where all these writings come from anyway. What God is taking me through. The things He won’t let me stop thinking about.

You know, when you start thinking, maybe God is talking?

Those little nudges toward kindness. Serving. Being considerate. Showing grace. Maybe those aren’t random thoughts at all. Maybe that’s the goodness of God being poured out on you. Maybe that’s the Holy Spirit whispering, nudging, convicting, reminding you of who He is and who He created you to be.

And how thankful are we that God Himself takes up residence inside us?

Come on.

How often do we stop and marvel at that?
How often do we thank Him simply for His presence?
It seems like if He isn’t doing something for us, our thankfulness takes a dip. What’s with that? What kind of spirit is that in us?

Because anything that keeps me from seeing the goodness and glory of God can’t be the right spirit. Anything that blinds me to His blessings, His presence, His kindness, or His faithfulness is something I need to lay down.

You mean there are other spirits I need to contend with out there…inside me?   Oh my…Yes…Yes…and absolutely Yes!  And they quietly influence me.  Dull my senses.  Lead me into distant pastures…away from The Shepherd?  Yes, .. and absolutely Yes!  They steal and will eventually kill the want-to’s inside you.  It’s a war, but I will have to leave that for another day.

I don’t know about you, but I want to recover my awe.

Jesus said in John 4:24 that God is Spirit and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth. Worship doesn’t happen accidentally. Neither does prayer. Neither does gratitude.

You don’t accidentally have a healthy marriage.

You don’t accidentally raise children well. You don’t accidentally become kind or generous or loving.

Everything meaningful in life requires intention. We intentionally tuck in the kids. We intentionally go to work. We intentionally put gas in the car.

Why would worship be any different? The early church was devoted. That’s the word that jumps off the page to me.

Devoted.

They showed up over and over again. Not because they felt like it every day, but because God was worthy every day. And somehow along the way, I think many of us have turned God into a vending machine.

We pray when the doctor calls. We cry out when a heart attack happens. We seek Him when the accident comes.

And praise God that He is there.

But why only then?

I know we don’t mean to, but isn’t that a large part of why we need accountability partners, our church community, and God-loving, God-fearing friends? People who spur us on. People who help us climb the mountain of lethargy and self-absorption.  People who pray with us and for us?

God never invited us into a transaction. He invited us into a relationship.

How many of those do you have on a God level? Into fellowship.  Into friendship. Into knowing Him and being known by Him.
And that’s why one of the most frightening verses in all of Scripture is when Jesus says:

“I never knew you.”

Not, “I never knew your church attendance.”

Not, “I never knew your ministry.”

Not, “I never knew your theology.”

No.

“I never knew you.”

And perhaps the harder question is this:  Did we ever really care to know Him?  Not for what He could do for us.  Not for the miracles.  Not for the blessings. But simply because He is worthy of being known.

What will it take for us to understand that He is also the Person of God?

Yes.

The Person of God.

How hard is that to get your head around?

So I ask you again:

What is your recipe for entering God’s presence?  What tenderizes your heart?  What humbles you?  What awakens awe?

Because if you’re not intentional, nothing gets done.

Not marriages.  Not parenting or kindness.  Not prayer. Not worship.

The believers in Acts were devoted, and because they were devoted, God moved. Maybe that’s the recipe.  Not the perfect song.  Not the perfect sermon.  Not waiting for the next crisis. Just showing up again and again and again with gratitude, humility, and awe.  Because God is not a vending machine.

He is a Father.

A Savior.

A Friend.

The First, Second, and Third Persons of the Trinity.

And the greatest miracle isn’t that He occasionally visits us.

It’s that through Christ, He has chosen you and sent the Third Person of the Trinity to make His home within us.

No…

It’s more personal than that.

In you.

Now that’s something to be in awe of.

“What part of this hit home for you this morning? What are you carrying today that needs prayer?  If you’d like, send me a prayer request here. Let’s invite the Holy Spirit in together.  (where two are gathered.) You are not walking alone.  Just hit reply…
I read every response.”
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I Exalt Thee / Oh Lord You’re Beautiful