February 4, 2022

 

Quiet Time

 

But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

– Luke 5:16

 

How often do you pray? I’m not asking how often you talk about praying. I’m not counting those one sentence prayers you throw out in desperation or to make a point. I’m asking how often you actually sit or kneel down in a quiet place and spend time with God, talking and listening.

 

We take prayer for granted, don’t we? God is always there so when we really need Him, we pray. Desperation turns a soul toward the One who can make it all right again. We cry out in anguish, in anger, in grief.

 

But what about all those other times. Do we thank God when life is good? Do we spend time with Him when we are filled with blessings? Or do we take it all for granted?

 

Are you tired from the demands of your life? Are you so busy juggling responsibilities that you just can’t seem to find time for God? He understands, you tell yourself. If you bother to think of Him at all, that is.

 

What would happen if you began each day with God? How would your day look if you asked Him to direct your path? How would it feel if God took care of you and everything on your list of responsibilities?

 

God provides us with the power to handle our day. It might not end up looking like the day we imagined. Maybe that’s our issue with kneeling before God. We want to be in control but He demands that we relinquish that control to Him. Funny thing about all that. We aren’t ever really in control. It’s an illusion that makes us feel safe for a time.

 

God is in control. He knows what’s coming. He knows what we need and how best to protect and nurture us. God loves us beyond anything we could imagine. No matter what. There is security in that.

 

So give it a try. Start your day with God. Talk to Him and take time to listen to what He has to say. You may just find yourself craving Him in a way you never imagined. You may even begin looking forward to that quiet time you spend alone with Him.

February 10, 2018

Meet With God First

But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

 – Luke 5:16

The text message alert went off. Again. I have increasingly learned to cringe at the sound. I wanted to ignore it but I was expecting someone to alert me before they stopped by to pick something up.

That wasn’t the text. Instead it was someone dear who was bored and ready to have a “conversation.” Oh, how I hate that.

I spend my days working. I know that shocks some people. They assume if you aren’t punching a time clock or sitting at a desk somewhere, then you aren’t really working. You’ve got plenty of time for them. You’ve got time to text and talk and run their errands.

I have tried to be accommodating. I learned with elderly parents that my days rarely go as I planned. (God means it when He says He will determine our steps!) But it’s not okay to assume that someone who is self-employed is always available to you.

A sweet lady who volunteers at the church office commented on this recently. She wanted to know if since I worked from home did I ever stopped working. I laughed and explained that I try to end about 8:30 each night. And, no, I don’t sleep late. I get up earlier than many friends who must drive to their jobs.

My one gift to myself is the quiet time I spend with God. It’s one of the first things I do every morning. It matters more than anything because it is what gives me the strength and guidance to make it through the day.

Sometimes it seems selfish to claim this time. I certainly have plenty of things to do. The list never ends and I never get caught up with it all. Then I remind myself that Jesus also took time to spend alone with the Father. If He needed it, how much more do it?

It’s so easy to get caught up in the busyness of life. There are always people demanding our attention. Sometimes we have to rearrange things. A baby must be cared for so we get up earlier or sit down when the baby naps. But when it’s important – and alone time with God is THE most important thing – then we find a way to make it happen.

You don’t agree? Do you find time to eat each day? Do you make time for watching television? Do you talk to your friends or go out to eat? We make time for the things we find valuable. How much do you value spending time with God?

For many of us there will never be enough hours in the day. There will always be people who think their needs or wishes should be at the top of our list of things to do. There will be people who steal our time, our peace, our joy.

I have drawn a line, invisible though it may be. I am no longer always available to people. Some aren’t too happy about it. It’s not my job in life to make them happy. I am nice but firm. My days are directed by God, not them.

I am so very grateful that God shows up to meet with me every morning. The creator of the universe actually wants to have a conversation with me. How awesome is that!

He wants to have a conversation with you too. What are you waiting for? Schedule the time and do it. You’ll find yourself with more energy, direction and joy as your day takes its course.