Leah Meahl-
"Are you done with your three days of silence yet? A girl on my hall asked.
Then a guy texted, "Did you find God?"
Three days earlier, I had told my friends not to text me. Other than attending classes, I would be spending time alone in my dorm room.
For the next several days, I turned off my cell phone, ate only Ramen noodles, and spent every spare moment praying and reading the Bible.
I didn’t care that my friends didn’t fully understand what I was doing. I just knew I needed to satisfy the itch in my soul. I realized the itch was actually my spirit yearning for some intimate connection with the Father.
Jesus experienced similar days, and He responded by disappearing into the wilderness to fast, pray, and escape the bustle of life so He could rejuvenate His soul.
His actions show us how important it is to stay connected with God and how doing so affects life with other people. In order for Jesus to rightfully serve others, He needed to be spiritually filled first.
We all experience spiritual draining. No amount of rest, food, or vacation time can refresh our spirit like immersing ourselves in God’s Word and prayer.
Our Father is the best source of life and energy. As we fill ourselves with Him, He can flow more freely to others.
Don’t be distracted by the many obligations of life. Take the time to separate yourself and run into God’s welcoming arms. Step away and discover His power that gives you rest and restores your soul.
"And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark,
he (Jesus) departed and went out to a desolate place, and
there he prayed"(Mark 1:35).
he (Jesus) departed and went out to a desolate place, and
there he prayed"(Mark 1:35).
(Photo courtesy of pixabay.)
(For more devotions, visit Christian Devotions.)
Giving God the Time of Day
Feb 28, 2017 12:00 am | Leah Meahl
Leah Jordan Meahl is a recent college graduate and aspiring author and freelance writer. She loves to share her experiences with God so that people will find hope, inspiration, and blessings while growing in a deeper relationship with Him.
She also has a love for the theater as an actor and singer. In her spare time, she likes to dive into a good book.
Gwen Smith- "Have you considered that perhaps God isn’t longing for you to come to Him with perfect, polished prayers that have fifty-cent words and flowery language? Have you thought about the pleasure God experiences when you simply approach him just as you are, warts and all, because He loves you? He delights in your attention. He takes pleasure when you go to Him simply because you are His.
I love how the psalmist responded to God’s love:
"Praise the Lord, O my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Praise the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits--
and forget not all his benefits--
who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
and heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
and crowns you with love and compassion,
who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's."
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's."
(Psalm 103:1-5)
Heavenly Father, Thanks for this reminder of Your love for me. Thanks for seeing me as precious and special. I’m amazed by Your love. Help me to come to You as I am each day... without pretenses, pride, or perfection, but simply with Your permission to just be me... because You love me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen." Gwen Smith
Today's quote-
Samuel Chadwick: "In these days there is no time to pray; but without time, and a lot of it, we shall never learn to pray. It ought to be possible to give God one hour our of twenty-four all to Himself. Anyway, let us make a start in the discipline of training in prayer by setting apart a fixed time every day for the exercise of prayer." (p. 24 in The Path of Prayer).
Today's sermon spotlights-
MARCH 19, 2017
Series: 500 Years: The Legacy of Martin Luther
MARCH 19, 2017
God at Work: An Historical and Present Reality
Speaker: Jamie SinclairSeries: 500 Years: The Legacy of Martin Luther
Location: CFC Canton
MARCH 12, 2017
The Main Thing (The Gospel)
Speaker: Jamie Sinclair
Series: 500 Years: The Legacy of Martin Luther
Location: CFC Canton
CFC SERMONS You can check out the many sermons to select the ones of interest to you. Click speakers to choose a minister's name, and his list of sermons for you to choose from.
CFC Potsdam church has a live service at 10 am Sunday's for shut-ins. If for some reason you can't make it to the church you usually attend, click on the above link, and still get fed!
Upcoming posts-
#101 Level 3 of Prevailing Prayer: Knocking
28th- Tuesday's post by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel
#102 Jesus Said We Would Fast
31st- Thursday's post by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel
White Robes
4/1st- Saturday's post by Lee Forbes
#103 Fasting As Self Denial
4th- Tuesday's post by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel
Jean's blog (Click to see snippets of recent posts)
Samples of Jean's crafts
31-day Devotional
+ Jean's testimony
[Maybe just choose a title each
day that interests you]
+ Jean's testimony
[Maybe just choose a title each
day that interests you]
Sample verses from p. 60-
Sometimes You'll
Not Know What to Say
Sometimes You'll
Not Know What to Say
"To know that Jesus does show care
When you call on His name,
Will help you to believe to where
Your life won't be the same.
Pray too that you will touch Christ's heart
Each time your need is great.
You'll find He's faithful in His part
And guides you for your sake."
When you call on His name,
Will help you to believe to where
Your life won't be the same.
Pray too that you will touch Christ's heart
Each time your need is great.
You'll find He's faithful in His part
And guides you for your sake."
(Published by Lighthouse Publishing
of the Carolinas. Used by permission).
A great gift for someone who may need help
to prepare for marriage, and for those in a
to prepare for marriage, and for those in a
marriage, wanting some helpful advice.
good blog thanks for sharing.
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