Quiet Space Needed
Quiet Space Needed
“You’re my place of quiet retreat; I wait for Your Word to renew me.” Psalm 119:114
Even before the world's pandemic, I was a social distance proponent. I've always chosen the beach that I know is least populated, and if it does get crowded, I walk until I find an isolated spot. I know I'm not the only one who defines personal space as enough area around me to avoid small talk or touching of any kind. We introverts just need more alone time than extroverts.
Even if we're not introverts, all of us need a place of quiet retreat that is our heavenly father. We can read and remember every truth written, which is invaluable for our spiritual strength and well-being, But God renews us on a very personal level in the quiet times. It's a hard thing to explain, but it's a certainty, nonetheless.
“A hurricane wind ripped through the mountains and shattered the rocks before God, but God wasn't found in the wind; after the wind and earthquake, but God was not in the earthquake; And after the earthquake fire, but God wasn't in the fire; And after the fire a gentle and quiet whisper.” (1 Kings 19:11-12)
God hasn't changed since Elijah heard that whisper. He wants us to get to a place away from the noise of the world so we can listen. Our part is to make the space in our lives to do it. When we are struggling the most, time to listen becomes most important. Our “place of quiet retreat” is also the God of the impossible, our great reward, our shield, and the one who takes hold of our right hand and says, “Do not fear I will help you.” (Isaiah 41:13) Maybe today is a good day to make a getaway plan.
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“Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Matthew 11:28
If there is one thing we can all relate to, it is that life can become overwhelming at times. When we face financial hardships, relationship challenges, struggles at work, or the loss of loved ones, we can feel overwhelmed and burdened down! It is in these moments of life that we yearn for peace. We long for something or someone to intervene and give hope and rest to our hearts. God’s promise to us is that He is the one we can turn to and He will freely give to us what we need.
When Jesus says, “Come to Me,” it is and invitation from God Himself. He is calling us to turn our focus from our circumstances to the One who never changes. We know this is true but it is hard to do. We often allow the momentary events in our lives to consume us, even though we know they will change in the very near future. Nothing in this world stays the same. But we allow what happens in one moment of this day to given direction to our emotions and our future because what happens consumes our focus.
God is calling us to make Him our focus because He is the One who never changes and He is the One who not only promises to give us rest, but to be with us always. Jesus said this to us; “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:29
What does it mean when Jesus tells us to take His yoke upon us? What is a yoke? A yoke is the item which joins two animals together, so they work in tandem. A yoke of oxen plows together, and because they are joined as one, they have double the strength. A team of horses pulling a wagon can travel farther than a single horse.
To be yoked to Jesus us to be joined to Him and Him to you! This is a blessing of God’s grace and a fulfillment of the promise we have been given that Jesus will “never leave us or forsake us.”
What Jesus is telling us is that in the midst of all the struggles we face in this life, He is the One we can turn too. He is the one who will stand with us, support, encourage, and enable us to endure in the face of everything. He does this for us because He loves us.
When you first believed in Jesus as your Savior you received more than forgiveness of your sins. You were given more than the understanding that you will live in heaven forever. In that moment when faith was born in your heart, you were given a partner for life. God, your God, came to you. He joined Himself to you in an inseparable way. In that moment He promised He would always be with you.
In the midst of all the challenges we face in this life, let us turn to the one who stands victorious over all struggles and in Him we can have rest and peace.
Blessings on your week,
Pastor Russ
“You’re my place of quiet retreat; I wait for Your Word to renew me.” Psalm 119:114
Even before the world's pandemic, I was a social distance proponent. I've always chosen the beach that I know is least populated, and if it does get crowded, I walk until I find an isolated spot. I know I'm not the only one who defines personal space as enough area around me to avoid small talk or touching of any kind. We introverts just need more alone time than extroverts.
Even if we're not introverts, all of us need a place of quiet retreat that is our heavenly father. We can read and remember every truth written, which is invaluable for our spiritual strength and well-being, But God renews us on a very personal level in the quiet times. It's a hard thing to explain, but it's a certainty, nonetheless.
“A hurricane wind ripped through the mountains and shattered the rocks before God, but God wasn't found in the wind; after the wind and earthquake, but God was not in the earthquake; And after the earthquake fire, but God wasn't in the fire; And after the fire a gentle and quiet whisper.” (1 Kings 19:11-12)
God hasn't changed since Elijah heard that whisper. He wants us to get to a place away from the noise of the world so we can listen. Our part is to make the space in our lives to do it. When we are struggling the most, time to listen becomes most important. Our “place of quiet retreat” is also the God of the impossible, our great reward, our shield, and the one who takes hold of our right hand and says, “Do not fear I will help you.” (Isaiah 41:13) Maybe today is a good day to make a getaway plan.
+++
“Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Matthew 11:28
If there is one thing we can all relate to, it is that life can become overwhelming at times. When we face financial hardships, relationship challenges, struggles at work, or the loss of loved ones, we can feel overwhelmed and burdened down! It is in these moments of life that we yearn for peace. We long for something or someone to intervene and give hope and rest to our hearts. God’s promise to us is that He is the one we can turn to and He will freely give to us what we need.
When Jesus says, “Come to Me,” it is and invitation from God Himself. He is calling us to turn our focus from our circumstances to the One who never changes. We know this is true but it is hard to do. We often allow the momentary events in our lives to consume us, even though we know they will change in the very near future. Nothing in this world stays the same. But we allow what happens in one moment of this day to given direction to our emotions and our future because what happens consumes our focus.
God is calling us to make Him our focus because He is the One who never changes and He is the One who not only promises to give us rest, but to be with us always. Jesus said this to us; “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:29
What does it mean when Jesus tells us to take His yoke upon us? What is a yoke? A yoke is the item which joins two animals together, so they work in tandem. A yoke of oxen plows together, and because they are joined as one, they have double the strength. A team of horses pulling a wagon can travel farther than a single horse.
To be yoked to Jesus us to be joined to Him and Him to you! This is a blessing of God’s grace and a fulfillment of the promise we have been given that Jesus will “never leave us or forsake us.”
What Jesus is telling us is that in the midst of all the struggles we face in this life, He is the One we can turn too. He is the one who will stand with us, support, encourage, and enable us to endure in the face of everything. He does this for us because He loves us.
When you first believed in Jesus as your Savior you received more than forgiveness of your sins. You were given more than the understanding that you will live in heaven forever. In that moment when faith was born in your heart, you were given a partner for life. God, your God, came to you. He joined Himself to you in an inseparable way. In that moment He promised He would always be with you.
In the midst of all the challenges we face in this life, let us turn to the one who stands victorious over all struggles and in Him we can have rest and peace.
Blessings on your week,
Pastor Russ
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