Like many of you, I live a very full life. Between my secular job of teaching, the ministry, being a wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, and whatever else I need to be at any given moment, it seems there is never a dull or quiet moment. When we live such busy and burdened lives, we experience times where we are burned out, exhausted, and worn down to the ground. It's difficult to keep up a demanding schedule with all of the responsibilities we have.
And what about our spiritual life? When we are under such demands we may think it impossible to have or increase the time we spend with the Lord on a daily basis. We may feel that we don't have any time or that we only have a few minutes for a quiet time at the end of the day. Oh what a deception this is! Don't give in to this LIE! I did for years and it cost me! Quality time with God is to be our FIRST PRIORITY! It should never be the last thing on our 'To Do' list! If we do this, by the end of our day we will either be too tired or our time will run out. We won't be giving God our very best in doing so! Making quality quiet time with God DAILY is a NECESSITY! He is deserving of our best, including our time, but it is just as necessary for our own well being to have this daily, uninterrupted time with God. The world is a dry desert offering us only that which does not satisfy our thirsty souls. Our daily time with God is our spiritual oasis. We need to drink deeply from this living water daily!
But once in a while, we need even more than just a daily quiet time. Sometimes we need to completely stop, be still, and know that He is God. We need to retreat completely from the world be it for a day, half a day, or a few hours. We need time to take a deeper drink of those life sustaining waters. We need complete uninterrupted time to get away from it all and be with God - alone in prayer, quiet meditation, and contemplation. I had heard this suggestion in a book entitled The Worn Out Woman:When Your Life is Full and Your Spirit is Empty by Dr. Steve Stephens and Alice Gray. The authors suggested a day where you just get away from it all. Just you, your Bible, and God. Whether this be yearly, semiannually, or quarterly is up to you. But the intention is that you pull yourself far away from life to slow down and listen to God. Allow God to help you reassess your life and find His direction for you. I always thought this was a nice idea but not very pratical. I mean, I just didn't have this kind of time. Or so I thought. Then, quite by accident, it happened to me.
Yesterday, God brought my life to a complete stand-still. I don't think I have ever been as still as I was yesterday. God knew it was what I needed. More importantly, it was what
He wanted of me. I had plans to clean house, help the guys with our new patio, and clean the pool. The day didn't go down like I planned. I started my quiet time in the morning as usual in my favorite place to be - on my new patio swing. But it didn't end at the usual time. Instead, God had a Father-daughter day in mind. I was happy to oblige. We spent the day in quiet conversation, Him doing most of the talking. Me swinging, listening as the wind rustled in the trees. It was as if the world came to a complete stand still. In the stillness of the day, I did some deep soul searching as God revealed His direction for my life. My heart rejoiced and delighted in My Lord and Savior all the day long! He rejuvenated and refreshed my spirit while deeply cleansing my heart from it's burdens."Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." Matthew 11:28-29
Yesterday, I found rest for my soul. A rest like no other. A rest I could not find anywhere else, not even in the finest spas in the world in a month of Sundays. I want you to be able to find your rest in Christ as well. Take a day away from your life just to be still and know that He is God!
In His Love, Cathy
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