Answer
Some Christians refer to a meaningful or extraordinary experience of God’s presence or power as a “God moment.” The principle comes from a book by Alan D. Wright titled The God Moment Principle. Originally published in 1999 by Multnomah Publishers, the book encourages readers to focus on the positive, faith-building encounters they have had with God in the past as proof of His active, caring existence in their daily lives. Over the years, other similar books, apps, and devotionals have been published on the topic.
The term God moment is not found in the Bible, but the concept is scripturally sound. Wright cites young David as someone who found faith, courage, and strength in the face of overwhelming obstacles because he recognized and remembered the God moments in his past. In 1 Samuel 17:33–37, as David prepares to confront the giant Goliath, his faith is bolstered by thinking back to his boyhood days tending sheep. God had empowered David to kill a lion and a bear while shepherding and protecting his flock. Now, instead of dwelling on the smallness of his stature, David trusts in the already-proven greatness of his God. On page 29 of The God Moment Principle, Wright reflects, “A whole army of Israelite soldiers couldn’t produce one brave warrior. But one shepherd boy who remembered a God Moment could easily slay a giant. . . . Yesterday’s God Moments are stones in the sling of faith for tomorrow’s giants.”
Another biblical “God moment” is Israel’s miraculous exodus from slavery in Egypt, an event that becomes a recurring historical reminder of God’s incredible faithfulness and mighty deliverance in the lives of His people (1 Samuel 12:6; Micah 6:4; Hosea 12:13; Amos 2:10; Psalm 114:1). Later, Moses tells the Israelites to “remember how the Lord your God led you through the wilderness for these forty years, humbling you and testing you to prove your character, and to find out whether or not you would obey his commands” (Deuteronomy 8:2, NLT).
God is always with us, both in the ordinary and extraordinary moments of life, but sometimes we forget or fail to recognize Him in them. Often, we only recall the negative, “glass-half-empty” aspects of our experiences and circumstances. God wants us to remember Him in the sea-parting miracles and the mundane wilderness wanderings: “Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me” (Isaiah 46:9, NLT; see also Deuteronomy 5:15; 8:18; 1 Chronicles 16:12; Matthew 16:9–10).
Believers are called to remember God’s person, commands, and even His wrath (Numbers 15:38–40; Jeremiah 51:50; Jonah 2:7; Psalm 103:17–18; Deuteronomy 9:7–8). In the New Testament, Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper so His followers would never forget Christ’s death on the cross (1 Corinthians 11:24–28; Luke 22:17–20). One of the functions of the Holy Spirit is to help believers remember Jesus and His teachings (John 14:26; 16:4).
Scripture affirms that remembering “God moments” builds our faith and trust in the Lord (Psalm 13:5–6; Deuteronomy 26:4–11) and leads to rejoicing (Psalm 66:5–6), repentance and forgiveness from sin (Matthew 5:23–24; Revelation 2:5; 3:3), spiritual understanding and discernment (Luke 24:6–8; John 15:20; 16:1–4), and hope for the future (Lamentations 3:21–24; Psalm 42:4–11; 103:1–2; Hebrews 10:32–36; Romans 15:4).
Many Christians define a God moment as an intimate, unique, or uncommon experience that helps them see that something or someone bigger than themselves (i.e., God) is at work in their lives. It might be an answered prayer, a sudden revelation, or a chance encounter. In truth, every second of a believer’s life is a God moment because “we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). God’s plan for our good is ceaselessly in operation. He is always present and proving Himself faithful (Acts 17:27–28; Psalm 23; 139:7–10).
