Posted by: Shirley Smith on Thu, Aug 19, 2021
Matthew 4:1-2
Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. Matthew 4:1-2 (NIV)
The Lord sent Elijah to safety in an isolated area (1 Kings 17:2-6). David, a man after God's own heart, spent years in solo worship as he tended sheep. Jesus also sought solitude with the Father as He fasted and prayed in the wilderness. Each one of them found shelter in desolation and gained strength in communion with God.
I, too, need alone time with Jesus- the more the better. My soul craves it. When I go without, my mood shifts. My effectiveness as a Christian and a friend suffers. I'd love to go someplace quiet, away from the world's bustle, as Elijah, David, and Jesus did-but I can't. I don't have forty days to offer the Lord. I have closer to forty minutes.
Today, I set aside half an hour while my husband worked. I sat on my porch rocker and watched neighbors walking their dogs pass by. Birds gathered straw for the front yard birdhouse as my cat dozed in the warmth of the sun. I read the Bible, prayed, and waited. Tomorrow, I'll get up early to watch the sunrise with Him.
These aren't the extended periods I'd prefer, yet they're all I and many of us can carve out. Whatever time I offer to Jesus, He rewards generously. In the intimacy of silence, I feel His love, His presence. It's during those precious moments of stillness that He touches me most deeply. They aren't many. But they are His. And they are full. - Heidi Gaul-
FAITH STEP: Set aside a block of time every day this week for Jesus. After you've prayed and listened, bask in the intimacy of simply being with Him.
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