Quiet (5)

QUIET THINGS IN THE GOSPELS

Over the entire course of my ministry I have been drawn to thunderous things in the Bible. I love Elijah's prayer as he called fire from heaven, and the day the sun stood still for Joshua, Isaiah's seeing the Lord in Isaiah 6, the angels at the birth of Jesus, the voice from heaven at His baptism, the mount of transfiguration, the earthquake at the cross, the angel rolling the stone from the tomb, and hundreds more.
But lately God has been drawing me to quiet things, especially in the life of Jesus. These are things like Jesus reaching out to touch a leper who had not felt a human touch for years, or His giving His mother to John at the cross. There are quite a few of these as well. They are not usually the foundations of major doctrines, but the Holy Spirit can give amazing insights from them. Some of these are difficult to understand. And we have to think about them before they begin to make sense. Many of them are recorded in the Gospels simply because they happened.
I want to share some of them with you because God often touches my heart with His peace through them. And I am convinced that He will bless you as we look at them together.
These may be the foundation of a book that I will yet write. I have been praying for God to give me time to write a book on peace. My granddaughter Olivia’s name was particularly chosen in connection with God's Olive Branch to and through us. And she occasionally reminds me of that, and half a promise that I will write such a book. And I pray God's peace will touch your heart through these scriptures.
 
 
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A FEW MOMENTS TO REST AND PRAY

Many of us have a few quiet days after Christmas. This is a good time to rest. You may want to read something you have not had time to read or maybe a new book given you for Christmas. This is also an important time to think and pray.

As Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart, it is well to savor all that God has done for us, for you. As you think of your celebration of Christmas, you may remember things that did not go as you wished or as God desires. Was there a conflict in your family? Pray for the people involved. Pray for God to heal the rift. Do you need to forgive someone? Do you need to ask God's forgiveness? Do you need to struggle with repentance until you can rest in the luxury of His grace.

You may need to look back at the tumultuous year that is coming to a close. It should alarm us, and cause us to pray. Americans need to pray for our country. We need to pray for the world. But even in the midst of the turmoil we need to rest in God. He is sovereign even in the face of immorality, lies, terrorism, war, disruption of homes driving needy people across the world.

And while you are thinking and praying, ask God to show you what you need to be praying for the coming year. What is God calling you, us, to join Him in?

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Down-to-earth Living

“Be practical as well as generous in your ideals. Keep your eyes on the stars, but remember to keep your feet on the ground.” (President Theodore Roosevelt)

 

Private quiet time with God in rarefied spiritual heights is enjoyable. In fact, His company may be so sweet we consider constructing a shrine to revisit now and then; we may even feel we’d like to permanently move to our mountainside retreat. To escape the world’s polluted atmosphere and breathe pure oxygen, to be reenergized by invigorating heavenly elevation—what could possibly be any better? Reveling in friendship with God, we may wish we could just stay on Transfiguration Mount.

 

But being a hermit does not fit into our job description. We need frequent mountain climbing, to pray in solitude and keep our relationship with God on course. We also need to come down to earth to care for people. God is Love and He wants us to be loving. Preparation for ministry happens on peaks, but practical application occurs on everyday plains and depressed ravines.

 

We need to pray alone, and we also need to relate meaningfully. We need to ascend to commune with our Lord, then descend to serve others. It’s wonderful to enjoy tranquil interludes, so we can be strong in noisy chaos. But we should be careful not to become so heavenly minded we’re of no earthly good. When our head is in the clouds, God help us not to forget the crowds.

 

Though Jesus reveled in glory, when He sensed humanity’s plight He stooped to help. The King of kings descended the majestic mountain, assuming a servant’s role to compassionately care for a world in desperate need—now it’s our turn.

 

“Then Moses turned and went down the mountain.”  (Exodus 32:15 NLT)

 

Johnny R. Almond

Author, Gentle Whispers from Eternity

[This devotion based on Day 54 of Gentle Whispers]

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Setting Aside Time with God

In Scripture, we read of men who sought God, desired to hear His voice, who were instructed in His ways, and who took great joy in knowing and following Him.  In Hebrews 11:5-6, we read of Enoch as one example:

By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. (NIV, emphasis added)


Others, like Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Elijah, and especially our Savior, Jesus Christ; all earnestly sought the God; desiring to know Him and be known by Him.  In more recent times, John and Charles Wesley, E.M. Bounds, Charles Spurgeon, A.W. Tozer, Bill Bright, and others each had powerful ministries, but much more importantly, deeply personal relationships with God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.

In our day, God continues to give each of us just as much opportunity to draw near to Him as He did for any of those mentioned above.  He allows each one of us to determine how much or little time we spend intimately in His presence; talking with Him, worshiping and adoring Him, thanking Him, listening to His voice, and more. The question we must each ask ourselves is, “How much of this opportunity am I willing to take advantage of each day or night?”  Tozer touches on this below:


"There are many logistical tasks to be done during the next few weeks. And it is so easy to be caught up in the hustle and bustle of a noisy life such that we fail to hear God’s still, small voice. Many of us need the “stripping away” of the “many loved objects which harm [our souls].” Please pray that God will give us the all-absorbing desire for Him that is the key to a life of radical commitment and radical devotion to Christ." – A.W. Tozer

 

History of the Modern-Day Quiet Time


Frank Buchman (1878-1961), a Protestant evangelist, is credited with establishing what’s known as the modern-day “quiet time,” or daily time set apart with God.


"We need a power strong enough to change human nature and build bridges between man and man, faction and faction. This starts when everyone admits his own faults instead of spot-lighting the other fellow's. God alone can change human nature. The secret lies in that great forgotten truth, that when man listens, God speaks; when man obeys, God acts; when men change, nations change." – Frank Buchman


Many set aside a specific time of their day to read and meditate on Scripture, pray (in a variety of ways), and be still and listen for God’s voice or promptings.  The benefits of time personally invested with God are many- and they will touch the lives of every man, woman, and child around us- if we'll but make Him our priority over all others.


How close we draw near to God is up to each one of us.  When we set aside time to dwell in God’s presence, He changes us; how we live; and how we view the world and all it offers us.  Time personally invested with God yields eternal treasures that will long outlive the temporary activities or things we think we desire in our present age.  Jesus spoke of this in Matthew 6:5-21.



Modeling a Quiet Time


OnSite is currently offering a training that models what a quiet time can look like.  The training then gives all in attendance the opportunity to experience one-on-One time with God- to freshly allow each person to personally taste and see that He is good; in the model of Psalm 34:8.  See our schedule for upcoming trainings, or contact Rob to arrange this simple one-hour training for your church, small group, or neighborhood gathering.

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Hide and Seek!

JOIN ME IN A BREATH TAKING COMMUNION WITH OUR CREATOR!

It's a little before dawn and I walk the 200yds from my comfortable cozy cabin, in the brisk clear air to The Prayer Chapel at Harvest Prayer Retreat Center in Indiana.

The moonlight casts a silver glow over the ice-covered lake. Entering the Chapel I experience the presence of God in the beauty of His creation as I quietly speak out the names of Jesus inscribed in a variety of scripts upon one of the walls.

I sit down at the writing desk and read a description of worship by Richard Foster which started like this: "Worship is living in the reality of God's creation with a heart open to receive all it's glory. Wow for the next nine hours that is what I did and incredibly it seems as if it were but one. As you watch today's PM3 may God give you a desire to come out of hiding in the busyness of life and TAKE A DAY, & BE IN HIS CREATION.

Chkk-Chirrrrrrrrrrrr in the joy we share in Jesus and give away a PRAY NOW blessing today!

Colin

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