Mar. 4, 2013

Luke 4:42a

When daybreak arrived, Jesus went to a deserted place. The crowds were looking for him.

Once Jesus established Capernaum and the Sea of Galilee as his ministry home base, it didn’t take long for the crowds to swarm him. Despite no Twitter feed, Facebook updates or text-messaging sightings, even when Jesus tried to have time alone, he was found.

I think it was more than paparazzi following him around. While there were lots of inquisitive folks who were skeptical, I also think there were a bunch of folks who really wanted to see if they could be healed, experience a new power in their lives or find peace and comfort in something.

Spending time with other folks can be very draining. Personally, these days it takes more energy for me to be at the top of my game when present with others. How did Jesus deal with thousands of people clamoring for his attention and energy?

He spent time with his Father, before and after exhausting times. It’s daybreak. The sun is just beginning to peak up over the horizon. Where is Jesus? In a very quiet place, all by himself, only in the presence of the Father. Quite often after one of those exhausting ministry days, we hear him sending the disciples ahead so he can have some quiet moments by himself before he performs the next miracle.

When was the last time you spent 30 quiet minutes with the Lord? I mean, no TV, no music, no earphones, no nothing. Just you and God. Unfortunately, it’s been way too long for me.

When I received a call into ministry, I often wondered how many times previously God had tried to get my attention and tell me something. I was too busy to hear the Lord’s voice in my life. I really wanted to avoid doing this in the future. Thirteen years later and I know I’ve missed God’s voice. I know I’ve let other noises drown out the most important voice in my life.

This week, I’m going to find 30 minutes just to be with God. Where is a place that you feel close to God? Go there this week, all by yourself and spent time with God. We’re supposed to get a bunch of snow in the next 36 hours. Could you take 30 minutes away and just be with God while it snows and we wait to dig out? Or maybe after the snow, you can go to that special place and just be with God?

I cannot promise something profound will happen in those 30 minutes. Most likely, it won’t. Even if you do not really hear anything back, the exercise is not wasted. It may take more than one 30 minute block of time to decompress and hear God. How often we spend 30 minutes in front of the TV, checking Facebook or surfing the internet. In this season of Lent, let us chose to spend 30 uninterrupted minutes with God so we can just breathe.

Lord Jesus, if you needed time away to be with the Father, how much more we need this time with you. What makes us think we will hear your voice without some quiet time with you? Inspire us to spend 30 minutes with you this week. Let us have no expectations about this time other than just to be with you. Amen.

Blessings –

Dianne