Jacob was sent by his father to Paddan- aram to go pick a wife from his uncle. His father instructed he must not marry from among the Cannanite women.

On his way, when he got to Bethel, he had a dream where he saw angels ascending and descending. The Lord spoke to him in that dream and he restated the promises he made to Abraham to him.

When he woke up from that dream, what Jacob said surprised me. He said, "...Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not".

Don't be quick to think that was a 'spiritual' statement he made. That's the statement of an insensitive man who only realized the presence of God after an encounter.

Most of us miss encounters due to insensitivity. The place, time and people through whom God has designated for our encounter may look casual and ordinary but God is right there waiting for you.

More often than not, God comes 'casually'. What do I mean? Most times, God design our encounter to be without much display of His majesty and glory. He comes casually in such a way that it'll take someone in the Spirit to decipher his presence.

Most of us expect divine encounters to come with thunderous earthquakes and rumblings whereas God may just send his word to us through a small child speaking like a child.

In our day, people look forward to meeting God in large gatherings where popular names will be preaching (this is not to say God is not there) but the place for their encounter may be in a small church gathering of less than hundred.

We miss encounters because we also look down on people. On several occasions, I have had 'ordinary' men like bike rider, food vendor, etc deliver God's word to me. I mean, the very one I needed.

Wow! God may not appear or come the way you expect but he will surely come just that it may be in a 'casual' place with 'ordinary' people. You must be sensitive so you won't miss your timing.

*The house maid of Naaman was an 'ordinary' person. She introduced him to a prophet who gave 'unusual' instruction to meet with God in an 'ordinary' place. Thank God he listened. If he hadn't, he would have died a leper.

What you are looking for may be in a gathering of men and women who are illiterates but are connected to God. So many miss God because they want to be under the 'happening' man who speaks queen English yet the very place they left is where their 'manna' is.

Sensitivity is key If you don't want to miss God.