 One of my few daily commitments is alone time with God. I cherish it greatly. In fact, it’s the most important part of my day. It sets the tone for everything I’m struggling with or contemplating.
But distractions attempt to get the best of me—specifically, my iPhone. You see, my iPhone is my alarm clock. However, it’s also the hub of my text messages, social media notifications, and every other distraction known to man! It’s an exception, I know, to the “re—” rhythm. But certainly not to life.
If you desire to come closer to God, rest is unavoidable. It puts a fresh spin on the imagination. It creates a wider perspective. Rest. Rest ensures ample opportunities. Collect your thoughts. Enjoy nature. Drink some coffee. Find the energy required to continue. But most importantly, rest is a taxi to the presence of God. Jesus often rests throughout scripture. Take a look. “Early the next morning Jesus went out to an isolated place…” (Luke 4:42). “But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer” (Luke 5:16).  “Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law” (Romans 13:8, NLT).
Thanks, Paul. It’s not like I have a whole list of responsibilities already. My homework needs finished. My messages need prepared. My guitar strings need changed. My eyes need expansion clips. And now, Apostle, you’re telling me that I need to love people. What Can I Do To Seek God Today?
Jesus sought God. He is mentioned throughout the New Testament for his decisions of going to a quiet place and praying to God. In fact, Luke 6:12 says, “One day soon afterward Jesus went up on a mountain to pray, and he prayed to God all night.” It is important to understand, however, what Jesus did after this long time of seeking God in prayer. He chose the twelve disciples that would be with him throughout his journey. Even Jesus, the perfect and powerful Son of God, needed time to pray. After all, choosing twelve disciples isn’t easy. Accepting the Advice of Jethro
This week contains some of the most stressful and busy days that I’ve had in a long time. Perhaps you feel the same way. Or maybe this week has been easy so far, but each of us have had our share of busyness and being overwhelmed. The central part of this devotional is this statement: “You can only do so much, before you do too much.” I am by no means supporting laziness; rather, I am encouraging you to understand that Goldilocks played this game too. Too little is not enough, too much is more than enough, and just right is—well, just right. |