“The apostles gathered around Jesus and
reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were
coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them,
“Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” So they went
away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.” (Mark 6:30-32, NIV)
The following is by Gwen Smith on Crosswalk.com info@girlfriendsingod.com
www.girlfriendsingod.com (12/30/11)
“Friend
to Friend
I spin plates. Not real plates.
Metaphorical plates. I spin lots of plates at the same time and I multi-task.
This is both a blessing and a curse in my life. Sometimes my attention is
divided in too many directions, leaving me harried … while at other times, I’m
energized by the amount of things I can get done in a small window of
time. Regardless, there just never seems
to be enough hours in the day to get things done or enough hours in the night
to give me complete rest.
Being a plate-spinning mom is a
challenge. When my kids want me, they don’t like to wait for me to spin three
more plates before I answer them or give them my attention. When my daughter
Kennedy was a toddler, she figured out a way to stop me mid-task, no matter
what I was doing. She would place her chubby little hands on my cheeks, look me
in the eye, and demand my full attention. Then she would deliver her message or
question to me. I became her captive audience.
Just like Kennedy used to seek my
attention, the Spirit of the Lord often speaks a similar message to my heart:
“Don’t forget about me, Gwen! I know you have a lot going on, but your
attention should be mine. I love you. Come sit with me a while.”
Life
is busy. Each day we have activities, tasks and distractions that vie for our
time and attention. If we aren’t careful and deliberate, our relationship with
God can suffer as a result. The Lord doesn’t want to be an after-thought and He
doesn’t want to be penciled in to our schedules. He wants us to prioritize Him.
Focus our hearts on Him. Worship Him. Be with Him. Rest in Him.
What are your priorities? Where
does God fit into your schedule? How vital is it to you that you spend
one-on-one time with God each day? Are you experiencing the supernatural rest
that’s found in His presence?
In Mark 6:30-32, we learn that Jesus and His apostles had been busy
working for their heavenly Father. In fact, they had worked with such vigor
that they hadn’t even gotten a decent meal in their belly. (Boy, do I know what
that’s like!) In response, Jesus invited them to get away with Him so they
could find some rest and rejuvenation in His presence. He said, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and
get some rest’ (Mark
6:31, NIV).
That
same invitation is extended to you and me.
God wants you to pause the plate
spinning and be His captive audience in this very moment. He wants you to go
with Him to a quiet place: to be still, to gaze into His eyes, to worship Him in
Spirit and in truth, to be lost in His glory, and found by His grace - to find
rest.
I’d like you to imagine His strong
yet gentle hands reaching for your cheeks, lifting your chin, and drawing your
eyes to His. Fix your gaze on His beautiful, blazing, mercy-filled eyes. Give
the Lord your full attention. He will be your rest.
Let’s
Pray: Heavenly Father, please forgive
me for all of the times I fail to give You my attention. I shake my head at the
very thought that You want to lock gazes with someone like me, yet Scripture
clearly tells me that You desire to be sought after and found by me. I’m here.
You have my full attention, please speak to my heart and help me to be Your
captive audience throughout today and every day.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
“He who dwells in the
secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” (Ps.
91:1 NKJV)
jowildflowers@gmail.com jean-oathout.blogspot.com Tomorrow’s post: Elijah Was a Man with
a Nature Like Ours: Prayer Note # 10
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