Being open to let God work!

Today on The Morning Thing, we focused on Serendipity Day! We looked at it through a Christian lens as we know God works in incredible and surprising ways, and we came up with 8 things each of us can work on to be more open to this kind of God!

Recognizing and being open to a serendipitous God — one who moves in unexpected, surprising, and grace-filled ways — involves cultivating a mindset, a heart posture, and some daily practices that create space for divine presence in the ordinary and the unforeseen. 

Here are some of the best ways to open yourself to this: 

1. Practice Attentiveness 

• Slow down: Serendipity is often missed in busyness. 
   

• Cultivate a habit of noticing: small joys, coincidences, encounters, beauty, and nudges that may be divine in nature. 
   

• Ask: “What is this moment trying to show me about God?” 
   

“Earth’s crammed with heaven, and every common bush afire with God; but only he who sees takes off his shoes.” 
— Elizabeth Barrett Browning 

2. Let Go of the Need for Control 

• Be willing to release rigid expectations about how God “should” act. 
   

• Stay open to mystery, ambiguity, and the unconventional. 
   

• Recognize that interruptions may be invitations, and detours may be sacred. 
   

3. Cultivate Wonder and Curiosity 

• Instead of seeking answers, seek encounter. 
   

• Be curious: Why did that person come into my life? What is unfolding here? 
   

• Welcome the unexpected with openness rather than fear. 
   

4. Engage in Reflective Prayer or Journaling 

• Ask questions like: 
   

• Where did I see God today? 
   

• What surprised me? 
   

• What felt like more than coincidence? 
   

• Keep a “God of Surprises” journal. 
   

5. Trust in Divine Timing 

• A serendipitous God is often a God of timing, not just outcomes. 
   

• Learn to embrace delays, disruptions, and waiting as potentially sacred pauses. 
   

6. Surround Yourself with Stories of Serendipity 

• Read scripture with a lens for divine surprise (e.g., Ruth meeting Boaz, Paul’s detour to Macedonia, Mary’s unexpected yes). 
   

• Listen to the testimonies of others and how God met them unexpectedly. 
   

7. Be Willing to Act on Gentle Nudges 

• When you feel prompted to reach out, speak up, help, pause — do it. 
   

• Serendipity often requires participation. 
   

8. Hold Theology Loosely, Hold God Tightly 

• God is not always confined to our doctrines or expectations. 
   

• Stay rooted in God’s love and character, but allow the form of His movement to surprise you. 

To learn more about Serendipity Day, click HERE!