Day ten
“This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: “Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength. But you would have none of it. So the Lord must wait for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion. For the Lord is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for his help.” Isaiah 30:15,18
Have you ever tried to just sit in the quiet? Not reading, not watching tv, not listening to anything but your surroundings. Why is this so hard to do? I am a ‘doer,’ I have to be doing something; I can’t even sit and watch a movie with my family without folding some laundry or picking up my latest crochet project. So, this topic is a hard one for me to fully comprehend. We all know that God took a break after speaking the world into existence, “On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work.” (Gen. 2:2) I believe he did this to set an example of what he knew we would need to figure out. We need rest. This is not an excuse to become lazy. It says in Proverbs 13:4, “Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper.” This is how I feel about sitting resting, though. I have so much that could be done that I feel like I’m wasting time if I just sit around. However, God is teaching me that it is NOT a waste of time when I sit with him, rather, the best way to start my busy day. It says in Ephesians 6:12 that, “we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.” So, the best thing we can do to prepare for the day is to spend with the one who comes to our rescue against such things. He will use the time we spend with him to quiet our hearts, strengthen us for the day and mentally prepare us for what is to come. If we rush through the day without giving him a single moment to prepare us, we put our will before his and that is when things go downhill. Jesus expressed this point to Martha after she asked him to tell her sister, Mary, to get up and help her prepare their meal. He said in Luke 10:41-42, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.” God can definitely do his will without our help, he is very able and competent on his own. However, he wants us to live an abundant life, with him, working alongside him to accomplish his will. Not because he needs us, but because he loves us. When we rush through our day, jumping from one thing to the next, we deprive ourselves of the abundant life that God wants for us. Sure, we may get things done but it may not have been what it could have been if you invited Jesus to be a part of it. His best is definitely better than our best; “For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:9) When we sit in his presence and wait on his leading before we jump into our daily routine, we surrender our lives to his best and then he is able to give us the peace and strength to face the trials of the day ahead.
Today’s Exercise: Resting in his presence
I know this may be difficult but it’s a great habit to start practicing. Have a notebook paper (or journal), your Bible and pen with you and go sit in a quiet place. It could on your couch or outside on your porch or even at a nearby park. In the quiet (no headphones), just sit and be with God- no agenda. Don’t force your prayers and try to sound all holy to yourself, just sit in his presence. Soak in the beauty around you, let him penetrate your every thought. If he leads you to a verse, look it up. If he gives you a word, write it down. If he puts a song on your lips, sing it. If he puts someone on your mind, pray for them. Let him lead your time together and allow him to show you amazing things about himself and the life around you, the possibilities are endless.