Yada, Yada, Yada

By Mignonette Bailey
        

There is no substitute for time alone with God. His presence is the divine encounter that we all need in order to maintain the proper balance our lives require. Time alone with God lends itself to knowing Him in an intimate way that we can't get any other way. This intimate "knowing" is parallel to that which is shared between a husband and wife in a holy, sexual relationship. This is a completely different depth of fellowship than that found in casual sex relationships.

The Hebrew word for this kind of intimacy is YADA. It is found in Genesis when speaking of Adam and Eve's consummation. It is also mentioned in Nahum 1:7- "The Lord is good, a Strength and Stronghold in the day of trouble; He knows (recognizes, has knowledge of, and understands) those who take refuge and trust in Him." (Nahum 1:7 AMP)

Maybe you've heard the phrase "Yada, yada, yada", which generally means "so on and so forth". It's a casual saying that's thrown around without much thought. Well, our English use of this word couldn't be farther from its Hebrew meaning found in the Bible. Yada is more than an act of intimacy-- it is the highest form of fellowship, and we need it in order to survive and live the more abundant life that Jesus provided.

We see in the gospels that Jesus withdrew often, by Himself, in order to spend much needed time alone with Father God. In Mark 1:35 it says, "Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed."

So how do you get that time alone? You don't have to tell me; I know your life is so busy that you have to schedule time to breathe. But answer this question for yourself: have you noticed that on those days when you make time to be in His presence, in the secret place, in that yada moment, that your life tends to be less hectic, more orderly, just plain easier? I have. But yet and still, life places its demands on us and we put off spending time with God because we know He's always available and we can "catch up with Him later". Let's put ourselves in His shoes for a moment: who wants a relationship with someone whose responses are always rushed and always promises to get back to us but seldom does? Do you? Can any relationship survive like that? Hardly. And here's the irony: we put God off as though He's requesting our presence for His sake!! Have we forgotten that He has everything to give and only us to gain? Time in His presence is for our benefit, not His. Don't get me wrong, He enjoys your fellowship; you are the only one with your DNA who can give Him YOU. But He is the greater one in the relationship who imparts to us.

Sit down today and evaluate your life. What can you simplify in order to make room for God? A TV show, a hobby? Remember that you can't beat God giving and whatever you give, He will multiply back to you. Now go fellowship with God and yada, yada, yada.

Scripture of the Day: "The Lord is good, a Strength and Stronghold in the day of trouble; He knows (recognizes, has knowledge of, and understands) those who take refuge and trust in Him." - Nahum 1:7

Growing Pains

By D’edra Y. Armstrong
        

Romans 5:3 instructs us to “rejoice in our suffering” because it is for our growth and development. Pain prepares us for triumph. I am reminded of a fable that illustrates this perfectly.

The sunshine and the rain were engaged in a conversation one day when out of nowhere, the sunshine made a crude remark.
“You know, you really cause of a lot of trouble.”
“What do you mean?” the rain asked in bewilderment.
“You cause accidents, ruin picnics, spoil trips to the beach…the list on. But look at those people down there basking in my splendor. You know, the world would be a much better place without you,” the sunshine accused.
“I seriously doubt that,” the rain said in defense.

“Then give me one good reason why it wouldn’t,” the sunshine challenged.
“Well, for one, I take away the pollution of the air, filling it with moisture and freshness in which the world breathes.”
“Give me another one,” the sunshine challenged again.
“Do you see those beautiful flowers over there?” the rain asked.
“Yes,” the sunshine huffed.
“Well, I water the soil in which they are planted. I nurture the beauty of the world that you admire.”
“Go on, go on,” the sunshine urged.

“I replenish the rivers, the lakes, the oceans, and the seas so that the essential element of life may be bountiful and plenteous. I give life to the fish of the sea. Look at the various trees standing throughout the land. I protect them from being consumed by fire so they can fight diseases in the lower atmosphere. I nourish the soil in which they are planted, too. And in return, trees exhale pure oxygen into the air…the air in the sky in which so freely fly. Were it not for me, the fowl of the air would be extinct. And aren’t those shady green pastures just lovely? Well, I nurture the ground the ground in which they sit. So, were it not for me, those animals you see down there grazing in the meadows would surely cease to exist. And what about the crops of the field? Were it not for me, they would dry up and wither away and there would never be any harvest to reap, causing starvation to be prevalent in the land. You see, my friend, I ensure the existence of virtually all things. Were it not for me, there wouldn’t be air to breathe, food to eat, or water to drink. So while I may not be favored by the masses just because I cause temporary discomfort, I am quite essential to life. And you know what that means, don’t you?” the rain asked.
“I’m afraid I don’t,” the sunshine said with an attitude.

“It means that those people so-called basking in your splendor wouldn’t even appreciate you were it not for me.”

Exasperated and at a loss for words, the sunshine sighed and replied, “Well, you don’t have to rub it in!”

The discomfort caused by pain is actually for our growth and development. We may cry sometimes, but our tears do not fall on fallow ground. The shedding of our tears is a powerful phenomenon in and of itself. Our tears are symbolic of rain; they represent the showering of the air of our souls—the cleansing of our ailments and pain. Our tears represent the watering of the soil of our souls—the saturation of strength, faith, love, endurance, and peace. They also represent the replenishing of the sea of our souls—the flooding of wealth and prosperity. And the salt of our tears signifies the richness in which they flow. Finally, after the showering, watering, and replenishing, the rainbow of our soul appears and reveals its radiance; it lets us know that JOY IS ON ITS WAY!!

Verse of the Day: “In all things, God works for the good of those who love him.” - Romans 8:28

Miraculously surviving after being struck by an 18-wheel tractor-trailer, D’edra Y. Armstrong discovered the true power of faith and determination. A published author and Editor-in-Chief at SpeakWrite Publications, D’edra is nearing the completion of her second book, Making My Journey Happy. Visit her at http://www.speakwritepub.com…

The Secret Place

By Brenda Gittens
        

Psalm 91 is one that promises us protection from all that comes against us. It’s also one that mentions where we are safe, and that’s in the secret place. When we see the word “secret”, what comes to mind? For me, I think of “quiet” or “confidential”. Webster’s tells us that it means “hidden”, “concealed” or “something kept from the knowledge of others”. We all should have a place where we can go and be with the Lord, just you and him. A secret place. In this secret place you can tell him anything and everything, he will listen. He knows you better than you know yourself, and this place is truly where complete safety and refuge are evident. What is said and what goes on in the secret place is between you and the Lord, it’s confidential, hidden, and concealed.

Psalm 91:1-2, is one of my favorite scriptures. In the secret place is where he reveals himself and becomes more and more real to me. At times in this place, he shows and speaks to us things that are not meant to be told to anyone else. Let’s admit it; we have to learn that some things from him are meant to be kept from the knowledge of others. You don’t have to be going around telling folks everything that the Father told you. Also, this place is where we can find complete rest, peace, joy, protection, and trust in the Lord. Knowing all of this, we can always declare of the Lord, “He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, Hallelujah and I am trusting in Him.”

PRAYER: There is a place where we can go, free from all harm, a place where we can find complete refuge, a place where you are our fortress, and that’s in the secret place. Help us to go there more and more Lord, to experience those times of intimacy that can only be between you and your child. In your name we pray, Amen.

Verse of the Day: “Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare of the LORD: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I am trusting him.“ Psalm 91:1-2 (NLT)

Brenda Gittens is a worship evangelist, singer and writer who ministers in “word song” at churches, prisons and various events throughout Northern California and other states. Her latest CD is entitled, “Real Praise/True Worship”. Brenda is also a devoted wife and mother of one son. For more info, visit: http://www.brendagittensministries.com.…

Show Up Early And Often

By Sharon Frame
This week's topic: Time Alone With God

Would you pay $5.3 million to have lunch with stock market legend Warren Buffet? That’s exactly what a Virginia man did at an auction in 2010. He was determined to win the rare privilege to spend quality time with the financial guru, pick his brain and learn a few wealth building strategies. That time alone with Warren Buffet was a huge investment which paid off big for the hedge-fund manager. He got a job offer to help run Buffet’s $100 billion stock and bond portfolio, according to Fortune magazine.

What if we were as determined to spend time with God and as willing to pay any price to be in His company. Unlike the high-priced lunch with Buffett, it costs us nothing but time to meet God early and often. The payoff is priceless. How much “alone time” you spend in your prayer closet determines how much power you have as a Christian.

How wealthy we would be spiritually and otherwise if we were as eager to meet with God as the Virginia hedge-fund manager was to meet Warren Buffett. He sacrificed $5.3 million dollars just to have lunch with a mere mortal. Meantime, the Omnipotent Creator and Giver of Life stands in our midst with outstretched hands saying, “Come to me” early and often. And it won’t cost you a dime, just the sacrifice of your time.

Unfortunately, many people don’t see the real value of investing consistent, dedicated time with God. Yet He keeps urging us to “draw near” to Him. It’s in His presence where we find “fullness of joy.” “Come unto me all who labor and are heavy burdened and I will give you rest,” He assured us in Matthew 11:28.
Before your day has a chance to get stressful and frustrating, go to God early and often. That was one of Jesus’ not-so-secret weapons when he was here on earth. Mark 1:35 tells us that “Early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” Stealing away early and often was his routine. Why not make it yours? Investing time with God yields priceless and everlasting dividends.
What is it you seek? Is it direction in finding purpose? Wisdom to deal with family challenges? Perhaps is a warm hug of reassurance that you are loved. Peace in uncertain times, business advice, a million-dollar idea?

The bible says, “You have not because you ask not.” Perhaps you ask not because you feel guilty for failing to show up early and often to spend time with God. So now you think He doesn’t want to hear from you. Nothing could be further from the truth.

We don’t need to spend a dime to spend time with God. But it’ll cost us quite a lot if you don’t. The true definition of bankruptcy is the absence of God. So be sure to go to Him early and often.

Verse of the Day: "Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; And you who have no money come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.” - Isaiah 55:1

Sharon Frame is a former CNN anchor, Award-Winning Empowerment Speaker, a Media Coach and “Follow-Through” Expert. Her passion is to encourage and empower! Sharon’s latest book, “Wired to Win” teaches how to Plug In, Power Up and Push Through to Personal Greatness. Visit http://www.sharonframespeaks.com.…

Glory Unveiled

By Kerri-Ann Haye-Donawa
        

Up there in the mountain, away from peering eyes and listening ears, where the air is chilled and the only fragrance that fills the nostrils is the bright, fluorescent smell of the breath of God. It was there that God called Moses to enter into His presence and remain for forty days and forty nights. It was there that God hid his servant in the cleft of a rock as He revealed His awesome glory to him. It stirs my spirit as I come to the realization that that illustrious moment in time resulted from the pure intimacy of Moses’ relationship with God.

The relationship between Moses and God was characterized by dialogue, not just when surrounded by a congregation of listeners, but private dialogue. They engaged in conversation often. In fact, much of Moses’ time spent before God involved listening. Exodus 33:9 recounts, “And it came to pass, when Moses entered the tabernacle, that the pillar of cloud descended and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the Lord talked with Moses.” Imagine God inviting Moses to have a mid-afternoon conversation, not for Moses to get revved up and vent about the waywardness of the people in his charge, but just for Moses to sit and listen. It is clear that God treasured those moments, because He took time to protect the confidentiality of each session with a cloud. Powerful! And as they sat there together, Master and servant, Creator and created, “The Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend” (Exodus 33:11).
So it was that Moses was allowed to ‘see’ God simply because he asked to. “Please, show me Your glory”, Moses requested in one of their private sessions. Though unprecedented, God did not argue, nor hesitate; He simply agreed and made preparations to unveil Himself before His manservant. How amazing! Think about it, Moses understood the principle and value of time spent alone with God. He understood that His rank and position in the spirit increased each time he obediently submitted himself in prayer when the Spirit of God beckoned for Him to come away. He understood that after years of talking to the Lord in the secret place of solitude, he could ask God, without the need for theatrics and audacious justifications, to show him His glory, and God would respond, “Sure, I’ve been longing to.”

So it is that there is an intimate place of communion that God would have each of us to become familiar with. Psalm 91:1 declares, “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High”, which indicates that it is the intention of God that we live in the dimension of the ‘secret place’. It is His will that we enter the tabernacle of His presence and the confidentiality of His counsel often, until we become familiar with the private manifestation of His glory in our lives. Yes, there is tremendous value in our corporate gatherings, but there is even greater power in cultivating a relationship of intimacy with God.

Verse of the Day: “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” (Psalm 91:1)

Kerri-Ann Haye-Donawa is a writer and editor who is passionate about the word of God and how it is translated in our everyday lives. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Religious Studies and a Master’s Degree in Theological Studies, and is a member of Rhema Christian Ministries, Toronto, Canada. http://twitter.com/#!/KHayeDonawa…

The Purpose of Time Alone with God

By Brent Barnett
        

The ultimate purpose of spending time with God is to commune with God. Man is made for relationship with God (Ecclesiastes 3:11), and thus, in order to have fullness of joy and to be what God wants him to be, he needs to cultivate that relationship. How this is done will make all the difference for making our devotional time a meaningful, edifying, and truly purposeful time.

James 4:8 says, "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you." The reason we must have time with God is because God asks us to. He puts the responsibility on us to make the first move to reach to Him in drawing near. He wants us to want Him, and so He waits for us with open arms hoping that we will run to Him. The promise for us is sure that if we draw near to Him we can be sure that He will be there for us. He won't run, He won't hurt us, He won't ignore us, He won't abandon us, and He will listen. He is the perfect friend and Father, and He always has all the time we could ever need. In addition, He has the power to effect change, move mountains, and truly impact our lives immediately and directly. It is such a privilege to be a child of God Who can approach the Sovereign of the entire world to move to meet our needs.

When we come to realize that life is about relationship with God, we will get the most out of our devotion time. If we start to think that life is merely about doing things for God rather than enjoying God Who does His work in and through us, we will lose our joy and our first love (Revelation 2:4). Life to the full is knowing God (John 17:3). Eternal life and the abundant life (John 10:10) are found in cultivating a personal relationship with a personal God through Jesus Christ. This is what our heart longs for, and if we start replacing God with activities for God or any other idol, we will lose our joy and wonder why God feels so distant. The beauty of an intimate walk with God is that we can know His will (1 Corinthians 2:16), we can have our joy made full (John 15:11), and we can expect our prayers to be answered (John 15:7). There is rest, security, and certainty when we are near to the heart of God. But we must take the time to spend time with God to listen to Him, learn from Him, and love Him.

A productive quiet time is one in which we encounter God's heart for us through His Word. We read it, study it, and meditate upon it such that the Spirit is able to give us enlightenment concerning its meaning and His desired application for our lives. The Scripture is not meant to be mere data and information, but it is language expressing God's love and intents to us and for us. It is thus more than letters on a page, being God's handwritten note to us about His love and purposes for us. It is very much alive (Hebrews 4:12). When we read God's Word to see what God's heart is and how He wants our hearts (James 1:25), then devotions are meaningful and purposeful.

Devotions should also involve time in prayer. We should listen to God through His Word, and then we should speak to God through prayer. It is essential that we open our hearts fully before God, especially since He sees them for what they are anyway. It is silly to not express our full longings when God knows what they are anyway. We should cast our worries and cares upon Christ (1 Peter 5:7), we should pour out our needs to Him, and we should pray for the things which He has told us to pray for, such as for His kingdom to come and will to be done in various areas in our sphere of influence and in the world. We want to see His name lifted up in spirit and in truth. Once our hearts are enraptured with God, it is only natural to pray for others to know the same thing.

Psalm 16:11 says, "You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever."
We were made for God, so let us spend time alone with God to hear from Him, to know Him, to enjoy Him, to learn from Him, and to listen to Him. He alone can give us strength and meet our deepest needs, so let us draw near to Him regularly, starting today.

Scripture Of The Day: "You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever." - Psalm 16:11 (ESV)

Brenton M. Barnett is the founder of the free Bible teaching ministry, Relevant Bible Teaching, found on the web at http://www.relevantbibleteaching.com. He is also the author of Catch Fire: A Call to Spiritual Awakening. Brent’s greatest joys in life are his wife, Sarah, and daughter, Anneke.…

Cutting the Details

By Lisa Birch
        

I admire big-picture people, but I’m not one of them. I’m naturally drawn to details. Concise details give me clarity, and I appreciate it. But on a day-to-day basis, if I’m not careful, those same details can make things more cloudy for me than clear. 

It’s easy to get entangled in “stuff” these days—good stuff, and even great stuff, but all too often, much of it is just unnecessary excess. I always want to squeeze in one last detail to “make progress,” which eats into my time for the next thing. So often I’ve heard in my spirit “stop now,” but kept my foot on the gas anyhow, engaging one more idea, returning one more phone call, responding to one more email or text, or working just a few more minutes (hours) before I move on….

A friend recently told me I need to learn how to literally drop everything, for Jesus.

I listened, but got a bit defensive because I know all about putting an end to things—habits, lifestyles, etc.—for the Lord.

But she meant literally stopping whatever I'm doing at a particular time and actually doing it for Jesus.

It may sound trivial, but here’s my example: To put a hard stop on whatever responsibility I’m in the middle of, just to go to sleep at an earlier hour, somehow seems to be slack or even selfish if I think about it too long.

But when I re-direct those thoughts to God, and make the cut-off for Him—dropping everything in that moment just so I can shift all things to make time to be alone with Him—I become that Big-Picture person I so highly regard. Clutter moves out and divine order takes over because the Big Picture, what’s most important in this life, is in clear view.

Getting to bed early may be a no-brainer for some. But it's one reason why so many are simply too exhausted for quality time alone with the Creator. On the other hand, some of us turn in early every night and wake up before the sun only to get a head start on the grind again without giving God more than a nod or a quick “thank you.”

It’s good to acknowledge Him and be thankful. It’s good to go to church or sing a song. But He wants more. Our Maker desires to be what truly comes first in our lives, not just in our words, but in our actions. He wants us to enjoy Him—the one and only God, the Eternal Rock Himself—apart from His blessings. He wants solid time alone with you and with me, consistently.

“Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” Eph 5:15-16 (NASB)

Sure we all have valid responsibilities that occupy our time, and I'm not saying to neglect them. But I am saying priority turns out to be exactly what we make it. What's yours? 

This “dropping things" for My Father isn’t easy. But I want His wisdom, and I want His will over mine so I can make the most of my time …and not have it sucked up by insignificant details.

Scripture Of The Day: “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil." - Ephesians 5:15-16 (NASB)

Publisher of Vertical Fix online magazine, Lisa Birch has a passion for music with integrity. Along with her husband Chris, Lisa is the co-founder of Vertical Fix internet radio. A 15-year writer and editor, Lisa has contributed writings for corporate, creative, editorial and ministerial environments. For more on Lisa, log onto http://www.verticalfix.com.

Why Wither For No Reason

By Sharon Frame
        

Ok. Let’s admit it. Often it’s a dire emergency that forces us to run to God in earnest or in haste. Has your prayer closet become a hospital triage? It seems serious quality time alone with God only becomes priority when we suffer severe trauma. Disaster and desperation drive us to our knees faster than anything else.

But God longs to meet us in the “cool of the day,” when the only thing on the agenda is pure fellowship. Yes, the Almighty God wants to sit down and chat with you on a regular basis. He is your Father. But He’s also your friend. Jesus said in John 15:15: “No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.”

And this is no casual friendship God seeks. You wouldn’t tell your deepest secrets to just any friend. Intimacy is what He is after. And that comes only through spending consistent, quality time alone with Him. That’s the only way to know God on a deeper level. And to those who choose to dig deeper, He gladly reveals to them His secret treasures.

In Jeremiah 33:3 God said: “Call to me and I will answer you and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.” The faith needed to believe God for “great and hidden things” is cultivated in intimacy. Time alone with God in the Word, Time alone with God in meditation, Time alone with God in prayer; there is nothing more crucial for Christians.

And there is nothing more rewarding either, as Psalms 1:1-3 reminds us: “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.” (KJV)

So why are so many Christians withering? Consider this personal tale:

A peculiar piece of green ivy colors my kitchen. It sits in a glass vase on the counter and gracefully overlooks the breakfast bar stools below. Several months ago, I pinched it off from a massive potted plant in my study. The separation almost killed it though. It fell limp. Then it began to wither. The leaves quickly lost their shiny texture. And a coat of dark drabness set in. Death was certain. But then I put this wilting stem in a glass of water.

Within minutes it started to revive. Days later it had perked up. Before long, stringy roots began to grow. I laughed as they danced and dangled in the water. And then my eyes beheld a miracle. Just below the water level, tiny green leaves started to sprout! Time spent in the water had saved my ivy stem. It only needed to re-connect to its life source.

God is our life source. When we get weak, our spirits perk up at the mere mention of His name. So just imagine how we’d flourish if we tarried in His presence.

Let’s get eager like David who declared, "Early will I rise up and seek thee... My soul followeth hard after thee" (Psalms 63:1, 8)

It would give the Heavenly Father such delight if his beloved sought Him daily, not out of desperation but sheer desire for more of Him. He whispers today, “I miss my time with you. Come commune with me, or you’ll wither for no reason.”

Scripture Of The Day: "O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water." - Psalm 63:1 (NKJV)

Sharon Frame is a former CNN anchor, award-winning TV journalist and “Your Follow-Through Coach.” Her passion is to encourage and empower women. Sharon’s latest book, “Wired to Win” teaches how to Plug In, Power Up and Push Through to Personal Greatness. For more information, visit http://www.sharonframespeaks.com.…       

Yet I Sleep

By Pastor Marvin Williams
        

Reading Luke 22 this morning --“Get up and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation.” (v. 46) -- the echoes of these ancient words reverberated through the corridors of my soul. I was convicted – guilty as charged.

Just hours before he would carry all of humanity’s sins on his shoulders and in his own body, Jesus spoke these words to his friends, disciples, the men who would be responsible for his world-wide mission. He invited them to enter into and share his agony through intercessory prayer. But, they were exhausted with grief and the self-absorbed pursuit of moving up the leadership ladder. How could they sleep while their Master suffered? What a shame! Well, over 2000 years later, he speaks these same words to me.

I am in that garden, sleeping. My Savior invites me to be with him and to pray with him, but I am distracted by gadgets, schedules and my agenda. I am exhausted with grief and hopelessness, self-absorbed pursuits, and the lack of curiosity. My Savior has invited me into his pain. Yet, I sleep. My Savior has invited me to agonize with him over murder, abortion, rape, slavery, genocide, infanticide, abusive relationships, failing marriages, oil spills and hurricanes, and earthquakes. Yet, I sleep. He comes to me and finds me sleeping.

“Why are you sleeping?” he asks me.

“Huh?

I’m busted.

I’m embarrassed.

I’m not gonna stunt, pose or try and manage an image.

I offer no words of excuse or rationalization.

I was sleeping – plain and simple.

Jesus, I’m sorry.”

I wipe the sleep from my eyes and the drool from my mouth, only to recognize that while I was sleeping, he was praying. He has been praying and agonizing over the pain, the brokenness, the sins, the fear, and the anxiety in our world, but I was sleeping. My Savior kneels alone on his praying ground, deeply troubled. Yet, I sleep.

Because I am sleeping, I am not praying. And, because I am not praying, I am more prone to fail. I am in the garden, sleeping, and I am prone to give into all kinds of temptations: irrational fear, unnecessary anxiety, blatant satanic lies that my sins can outrun God’s grace, the delusional belief that I know better than God and can control my own life, and feeding my flesh is more important than feeding my spirit. No more! Not today! It’s time for me to:

Get up!

Arise!

Wake up!

Pray!

Intercede!

Talk to God!

Be devoted to prayer!

Together let’s enter into this exhausting, powerful, and intimate spiritual habit with my Savior. He invites us to be alone with him and to be devoted to talking to him daily. Let’s awake and pray so we won’t fail him and others we love.

Scripture Of The Day: “'Why are you sleeping?' he asked them. 'Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.'” - Luke 22:46 (NIV)

Pastor Marvin Williams is the Senior Teaching Pastor of Trinity Church in Lansing, Michigan. He and his wife Tonia have three children: Marvin Jr., Micah and Mikayla. He also writes monthly devotions for Our Daily Bread and Our Daily Journey. You can find Pastor Marvin blogging at http://www.marvinlwilliams.org.…       

When Prayer is Awkward

By Overseer Christopher J. Harris
        

Most people hate silence, especially awkward silence. You don’t need me to tell you that our society is constantly buzzing. But as strange as it may be, many times what makes prayer most effective is the total opposite of what we do most of the day. The most effective prayer experiences are the ones in which we are not multi-tasking, socially networking, checking off to-do lists, or even thinking and planning ahead.

Prayer with God is about being WITH Him – not doing something with Him. And what I’ve found is that sometimes being WITH Him may not require any talking on either your part or His. I know it sounds strange. But if scripture is true, you may only be able to really see the ‘hugeness’ of God in your situation based on your ability to handle the awkwardness of the silence.

There’s a very simple verse that many learned as children, but speaks volumes about the power of silence. It says in Psalm 46: 10a (NIV), “Be still, and know that I am God.” That same verse in The Message Translation says, “Step out of the traffic! Take a long, loving look at me, your High God, above politics, above everything.”

Prayer is designed for us to be able to take our situations, life realities, emotions, questions and discussion points, and place them under the microscope of who God is. This helps us to see them as God sees them.

Most people have a distorted view of what prayer is supposed to be. We base it on what we’ve seen in church services or on television. But in reality, a vibrant prayer life is initially slow-moving, awkward, and sometimes frustrating. It’s these very reasons that will cause a person—if he is passionate enough about developing his prayer life—to be deliberate, steady, and persistent until something breaks.

Here’s our real challenge – can we spend time with God, in prayer, without it being awkward? I believe we can. I don’t think God would ever hold us accountable for anything that we couldn’t do. But there must be a strategic plan on our part to make it happen. Remember, He wants this more than we do (Ps. 34:15).

Our answer to this question will largely depend on:
A) Our DEDICATION to the relationship with Him – how passionate are we about having this prayer time with Him?
B) Our DISTRACTIONS –how are we managing our distractions? (This will include text messages, television, music, random thoughts, etc.)
C) Our DISCERNMENT (or ability to distinguish between God’s thoughts and other thoughts) - is what we are hearing in prayer time from God… or from a news source or person, which may or may not line up with God’s Word?
D) Our DISCIPLINE – have I committed prayer as a regular part of my lifestyle or am I looking for immediate results?

If you aren’t able to properly deal with any of these four areas, the awkwardness of the silence will drive you away from God’s presence. But if you’re able to master these four areas, you’ll reap the rewards of a fruitful relationship through prayer with the most awesome God that exists.

There was this guy in the Bible who had an especially close relationship with God. God had given him a special assignment that many hadn’t figured out yet and I believe that one of the ways this guy was able to keep that relationship close was His ability to handle the awkwardness of the silence. That guy was Jesus. He prayed in silence often. “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed” (Mark 1: 35, NIV). If He did it, I think we’re challenged to do it as well.

Prayer, in silence, can be awkward. But you can grow out of it.

Scripture Of The Day: "Be still, and know that I am God." - Psalm 46:10 (NIV)

Christopher J. Harris, a native of Palatka, Florida, is the Overseer of Children & Youth for Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship International. Currently residing in Greensboro, NC, with his wife and children, he is also Founder of the Hub of Inspiration & the Inspired Ideas Group. http://www.ChristopherJHarris.com.…       

Redefining Time Alone with God

By John C. Richards, Jr.
        

Marriage has a way of changing your entire perspective. My wife loves spending time alone with me. I venture to say it is one of her favorite activities.

Early in our marriage, I misunderstood what this meant. For me, alone time meant sitting back and watching a movie or a basketball game on television together. This was “good, quality” time. Yet, she longed for more. There was something missing. There were times when she wanted my undivided attention, but I was too busy trying to figure out a movie’s plot or listening to unending commentary about a player’s personal life.

How much more does the Lover of our soul long for that alone time with us? Sure we can turn on a Gospel album and sing along with the lyrics. It might paint a vivid story of who God is and how He has blessed us beyond measure. How is that any different from my idea of movie night representing quality alone time? We might even go to worship every Sunday and listen to what others have to say about our God through the preaching of the Word. How is that any different from me not wanting to miss a word any of the commentators say about my favorite players?

I learned one thing when I began to unplug myself from all the distractions. My relationship with my wife became more intimate. I began to learn things about her I would have never learned had I not taken the time out to do one thing: listen. Many of us have the wrong impression when it comes to alone time with God.

We think alone time is more about the things we say TO Him rather than the things we hear FROM Him.

Jesus knew this all too well. Any time he came back from spending alone time with God he would have clear direction in his ministry. This is because he listened more than he spoke. He stole away from all the miracle-seeking crowds. He never let his stature in the community keep him from the one thing that sustained him: spending time alone with God. In the beginning of Mark’s Gospel, he rose “a long while before daylight” to spend alone time with God (Mark 1:35) (Not that early birds are more spiritual than night owls. Find a time that works best for you.) Interestingly enough, when the disciples found Jesus and told him that everyone was looking for him, he said: “Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth” (Mark 1:38). Alone time with God has a way of extracting purpose. It has a way of giving you direction. Most of all, it has a way of allowing you to hear the voice of God.

I can honestly say that my marriage is stronger now than it was before. That’s because I had to recalibrate my idea of what it meant to spend time alone with my wife. Maybe some recalibration is necessary in your life today as it pertains to God. Maybe your relationship with Him isn’t as strong as you’d like. Eliminate some of those distractions that you think might be helping. God longs for more than you listening to a 12-track composition about Him. He longs for more than you recounting what others say about Him. He just wants it to be about you and Him. Try it. I guarantee you will strengthen your bond with our Creator.

Scripture Of The Day: "Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed." - Mark 1:35 (NIV)

John C. Richards, Jr., Esq. is a husband, father, writer, and attorney. While an attorney, he is involved in local ministry in the urban Los Angeles area and remains passionate about juvenile justice. He is currently on staff at Hope Community Church in Pasadena, CA. http://www.brotherpreacher.com.