After reading Mark 1, it seems that Jesus had no time alone for anything. There were always people around him. I believe that the only time He could be alone with His Father was early in the morning. He was alone, there was quiet, no commotion. But of course the time didn't last long. The disciples came looking for Him. But since He had spent time with the Father, He was refreshed, rejuvenated. That is what He wants for us. He doesn't want us to feel weary, for our spirit to be tired. Being with Him renews our spirit. It is a breath of fresh air. I do believe that we are to have uninterrupted time with our Saviour, but that doesn't have to be early in the morning. The morning is great though because you can get up a few minutes before the children and start your day with the Saviour of the world! Sometimes I spend an hour...has the Lord ever woke someone up because He was initiating time with them? He has with me...more times than I know I am sure (because I have ignored Him). We need to pray, be still and quiet and listen for His voice. Sometimes I am not still and quiet or I try to ignore His voice because I am so tired, but you know what? I may be trying my hardest to go back to sleep but He won't let me...has that ever happened to anyone? That is how I want to be again. Sometimes I just spend 15min early in the morning right before the kids get up. We have quiet time and I want to make that my priority time with the Lord. I have a longing to spend time with my Saviour, so I have to do my part.
Making it Personal section:
1. Nancy DeMoss lists 4 conditions that may describe your devotional life. Mine are a combination of 2:
-My devotional life is inconsistent and sporadic. I also sometimes feel that my devotions
are a matter of duty and not delight.
2. The 4 words that describe my spirit when my schedule is full or when I am in the midst of pressured circumstances are:
-Anxious, demanding, impatient, doubtful
3. What did Jesus do when He was pressured?
-He went on. He didn't get cranky, he was calm. He didn't act impatient or anxious. Jesus' #1 priority was "to abide in intimate, unbroken fellowship with His Father". (pg 29, A Place of Quiet Rest)
4. My prayer:
-Dear Precious, Heavenly Father,
I thank you for Your mercy & grace! Make me, mold me. You are the Potter, I am the clay. During stressful times have me be more like Jesus. Lord deepen my desire to
fellowship with You. I love You & I want to know You more.
In the Precious & Holy name of Jesus, Amen
"The primary obstacle I face is myself-my laziness, preoccupations, worries, lack of concentration. I must deal with these in the strength of the Lord. But I am responsible to do what I am meant to do. He will help me, but He will not physically move me to the quiet place or to my knees."
~Elisabeth Elliot (pg 32, A Place of Quiet Rest)
"The Lord will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know I shall not be ashamed."
~Isaiah 50:7 (KJV)
Showing posts with label A Place of Quiet Rest. Show all posts
Showing posts with label A Place of Quiet Rest. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Monday, October 29, 2007
A Place of Quiet Rest~ Day 1
Today I am reading From My Heart and the first part of Ch 1 in A Place of Quiet Rest. Psalm 27, verses 4 & 14 are speaking to my soul.
4 One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple.
Oh my, my soul longs for that. To fall before and kiss the feet of my Saviour. What an awesome privilege that will be.
14 Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.
-WAIT- that has to be one of the most difficult things to do. There have been times when I have waited on the Lord. When the Lord has us wait, it is HIS perfect timing. HE will be glorified and you will grow in character in HIM. It isn't easy. We have to fight our flesh to want to "do it ourselves". We think we know best but we don't. We are impatient. There is such need for hurry.
4 One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple.
Oh my, my soul longs for that. To fall before and kiss the feet of my Saviour. What an awesome privilege that will be.
14 Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.
-WAIT- that has to be one of the most difficult things to do. There have been times when I have waited on the Lord. When the Lord has us wait, it is HIS perfect timing. HE will be glorified and you will grow in character in HIM. It isn't easy. We have to fight our flesh to want to "do it ourselves". We think we know best but we don't. We are impatient. There is such need for hurry.
Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. Psalm 46:10
Waiting...listening...feeling...knowing-my heart desires those with the Lord.
Here is a prime example of how I feel when I do not have regular time with my Saviour.
Satan hates God, and he works tirelessly to convince Christians that they can operate on their own, independently of God. If we concede the battle to him, he knows that we will end up defeated, frustrated, barren, and useless to God. Worse, we will end up doubting God, despairing of His goodness, in bondage to our flesh, and resisting His will. (pg 16, A Place of Quiet Rest)
I am convinced that few subjects evoke such feelings of guilt, failure, and frustration among believers as the matter of "daily devotions". (pg 17, A Place of Quiet Rest)
Boy is that just hitting the nail on the head! That is exactly how I feel! And when I do have daily devotions regularly...it starts to become "a sense of duty".
Until you see Him face-to-face, you will never cease to hunger and thirst to know Him more. (pg 17, A Place of Quiet Rest)
As I was reading chapter 1, I came to this quote by someone that attended a conference Nancy DeMoss spoke at. She asked them to write on a 3x5 card where God finds them as they start the conference weekend. Here is what this woman wrote:
I feel like I'm torn in all directions. I want God to show me how to manage my different "hats" of teacher, mother, wife, and daughter successfully, and still have time for church work and "me". (pg 21, A Place of Quiet Rest)
WOW! Anyone else feel this way...or is it just me? Praise God for His enduring mercy & grace!
How does one still achieve the demands of life and still have time for themselves? I know what that is and even before I won this book, I knew. To have "quiet, alone time" with my Creator, my Saviour, my Redeemer, & my BEST FRIEND. We have to make that a priority. I have to make it a priority. I need to battle my flesh when I am tired (go to bed earlier), cranky (joy does come in the morning), and hurried (patience is a virtue...that I haven't attained---or tried to be). But we can do ALL things through Christ! ALL things!! :-D
Tomorrow I want to talk about the account in Mark 1 and discuss the questions at the end of the chapter. God is using this to transform & deepen my relationship with Him. I want that so badly. Would you like that for yourself?
Abiding in His love…
Here is a prime example of how I feel when I do not have regular time with my Saviour.
Satan hates God, and he works tirelessly to convince Christians that they can operate on their own, independently of God. If we concede the battle to him, he knows that we will end up defeated, frustrated, barren, and useless to God. Worse, we will end up doubting God, despairing of His goodness, in bondage to our flesh, and resisting His will. (pg 16, A Place of Quiet Rest)
I am convinced that few subjects evoke such feelings of guilt, failure, and frustration among believers as the matter of "daily devotions". (pg 17, A Place of Quiet Rest)
Boy is that just hitting the nail on the head! That is exactly how I feel! And when I do have daily devotions regularly...it starts to become "a sense of duty".
Until you see Him face-to-face, you will never cease to hunger and thirst to know Him more. (pg 17, A Place of Quiet Rest)
As I was reading chapter 1, I came to this quote by someone that attended a conference Nancy DeMoss spoke at. She asked them to write on a 3x5 card where God finds them as they start the conference weekend. Here is what this woman wrote:
I feel like I'm torn in all directions. I want God to show me how to manage my different "hats" of teacher, mother, wife, and daughter successfully, and still have time for church work and "me". (pg 21, A Place of Quiet Rest)
WOW! Anyone else feel this way...or is it just me? Praise God for His enduring mercy & grace!
How does one still achieve the demands of life and still have time for themselves? I know what that is and even before I won this book, I knew. To have "quiet, alone time" with my Creator, my Saviour, my Redeemer, & my BEST FRIEND. We have to make that a priority. I have to make it a priority. I need to battle my flesh when I am tired (go to bed earlier), cranky (joy does come in the morning), and hurried (patience is a virtue...that I haven't attained---or tried to be). But we can do ALL things through Christ! ALL things!! :-D
Tomorrow I want to talk about the account in Mark 1 and discuss the questions at the end of the chapter. God is using this to transform & deepen my relationship with Him. I want that so badly. Would you like that for yourself?
Abiding in His love…
April B
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