LISTENING WHEN HE SPEAKS

Do you have quiet time? Do you read the Word daily? Do you have personal devotions allowing time for a conversation with your Savior?

Of course you do. You are a Christ follower.

Well……maybe not. I read a recent article from the Center for Bible Engagement that is a little scary. It seems most of us believe that quiet time and reading the Word daily is a good idea and part of knowing Christ and yet only a small percentage of us do it.

Get this, 35% of Born Again Christians don’t read the Bible AT ALL! 37% say they read the Bible once or more weekly…but of those, fully 21% say it is during their weekly worship service that they read the Word! That leaves only 16% who read the Word at home!

Pretty sad statistics and perhaps explains why so few stand up for the Word of God in our culture.

But what if Jesus, the Christ, God’s Son, our Savior, the Living Word of God spoke to you in a personal way as you spent time with Him? Would it become a priority to set aside the time and become more important than whatever else was on your “to do” list?

Believe me, I am right there with you. My days are filled with busyness and many good things, but often I realize I have to give up the good, to seek the Best in the person of Jesus.

To make time with Him and His Word my first fruits offering in the morning before the day crowds in to steal the time away.

We’ve all done it. Finally crawling into bed exhausted, breathing a few words of prayer before sleep steals in, saying He is our life and yet everything else seems more urgent than time with Him.

Well, help is at hand!

Recently I picked up a little devotional book from Thomas Nelson Publishers called Jesus Calling, Enjoying Peace in His Presence, written by Sarah Young. It is divided into daily readings complete with Scripture references, but reading it is like finding the fountain of living water—once you begin to drink, you don’t want to stop because the peace and refreshing washes over your weary soul.

Sarah writes in the introduction about struggling with questions and then experiencing the beautiful presence of “Sweet Jesus” and realizing that she truly belonged to Him. It was the beginning of her relationship with the Creator of the Universe. Then for 16 years she lived the “Christian Life,” including going to Seminary and becoming a counselor to hurting women that they might find healing in Christ.

In 1991, Sarah was at loose ends with one job at end and waiting for an overseas move when she began to explore abiding in the presence of God. In 1992, she began reading God Calling, a devotional written by two “listeners” who have chosen to remain anonymous even as the popularity of this simple devotional soared. The listeners spent time together each night, pens in hand, writing what they heard God speak as they waited in His presence. With that book as an inspiration, Sarah took her prayer journaling from a one way conversation of telling Him what she wanted to listening and writing down what she heard the Lord say.

What has resulted is a small book of daily readings that bubble over with the love, joy and peace of Jesus, refreshing the reader as His presence floods in.

Young writes, “This practice of listening to God has increased my intimacy with Him more than any other spiritual discipline so I want to share some of the messages I have received. In many parts of the world, Christians seem to be searching for a deeper experience of Jesus’ Presence and Peace. The messages that follow address that felt need.”

Since I received the book, I have read each day soaking up the words as a balm for my weary soul. I find myself picking up the book at random times, turning through the pages, letting the Living Word speak to my heart and circumstances. And, I am practicing sitting in His presence and hearing His voice speak to my heart, reading His Word and letting it refresh my spirit, writing down fresh insights as we intimately fellowship. It is what my weary soul needs.

So much of my life had become “do and do and do” and so little of it resting in Him and being with Him. So much striving to get it all done and make a difference in a lost and dying world. So little abiding in Him. So much busyness and so little Peace.

If you find yourself caught up in the snare of the busyness of life and seem unable to find the time for Him though you love Him so (and that must be many of us according to the statistics!), I highly recommend Jesus Calling by Sarah Young. I’ll leave you with this reading for today…..

“I am the firm foundation on which you can dance and sing and celebrate My Presence. This is My high and holy calling for you; receive it as a precious gift. Glorifying and enjoying Me is a higher priority than maintaining a tidy, structured life. Give up your striving to keep everything under control—an impossible task and a waste of precious energy.

My guidance for each of My children is unique. That’s why listening to Me is so vital for your well-being. Let me prepare you for the day that awaits you and point you in the right direction. I am with you continually, so don’t be intimidated by fear. Though it stalks you, it cannot harm you, as long as you cling to My hand. Keep your eyes on Me, enjoying Peace in My Presence.”

Psalm 5:11; Ephesians 3:20-21; Jude 24-25; Joshua 1:5

Blessings and Peace in His Presence as you seek Him this week!

Kim