When Stephen first approached me, asking if I was interested
in guest posting for him (and vice versa…stay tuned for his guest appearance on my blog), I was excited at the opportunity.
Then he sent me a prompt: “Knowing and seeking Christ in the quiet.” I
deflated slightly, as the enormity of the subject sank in. Nevertheless, I've accepted the challenge and will share a few thoughts with you.
The past two years influenced me more spiritually than any
other time in my life. I experienced times of busyness, and my spiritual escape
was secluding myself with my journal, bible, and Pandora or Vimeo. My soul
received rejuvenation while thinking, praying, and processing to God without a
time constraint.
Personality is irrelevant when spending time with Christ.
Yes, our individual characteristics will influence the ways we connect
spiritually, worship publicly and privately, and relate to God. But, sitting
with God, being still and connecting with Him, is a Biblical instruction.
Psalm 46:10 is the cliché “be still” verse. Jesus tells Martha to relax and points out that sitting at his feet is more important that
having the perfect meal (ouch…as a natural planner, I just felt that one as I
wrote it). We have the examples of Jesus spending time with the Father in
quiet, away from the noise of life and the distraction of His disciples.
I experience more growth while talking with one friend than
when I spend time with five.
The same happens with Jesus. When I spend quiet time with
Him, whether in the early morning hours, late at night, in the car, or some
other place, I grow more than when I am in a noisy environment, catered to a
large group.
The quiet is when I cry out, scribble pages, and wrestle.
Sometimes it is peaceful, other times it is exhausting. Regardless, when I
resume my tasks, I feel a peace and restoration.
That quiet time is so important, yet so easy to skip with a few rationalizations about the number of tasks to be done each day.
ReplyDeleteI always think about when Jesus tells his disciples, "But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you."
Large gatherings can be held for all the best reasons. Church meetings themselves can be quite large. And yet Jesus says to go into the inner room and pray "in secret." Partly, I believe the solitude removes much of the pretense and insincerity that creeps in when other people are around to hear us; and partly, as you have said, one-on-one communion is simply richer.
Thanks for the reminder to seek Him in the quiet. :)