The Time In-Between
We are living in the time in-between. When I think of that with regards to Christian theology, it is the time in between the first coming of Christ (the Incarnation) and the second coming of Christ (the Parousia). Today, however, I am thinking of the time in-between when covid-19 drove us into our homes and when we will be free to socialize and work normally again. The time in-between in both cases is a time of uncertainty. Of waiting. Of trusting. Of hoping. Of praying.
These are very unique and challenging times. I think that is what motivated me to blog today. Thinking of all of you living your lives under the stress and strain of the corona virus pandemic and wanting to reach out to let you know you are not alone. Truly not alone - God is with you.
Zephaniah 3:17 comes to mind:
"The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save;
he will rejoice over you with gladness;
he will quiet you by his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing."
Side note: All of a sudden I am 20 years old and I am listening to the Bob Fits song based on that verse.
Seriously though, I didn't write this to start reminiscing about back-combed bangs and 80's worship music! (Although that might bring up some fun memories for some of you. 😊 )
Back to our verse:
"The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save"
What does it mean for you to know that the LORD is in your midst? That He is with you right now?
Do you find yourself drawing near to Him in this time of stress or are you too distracted and unsettled?
It took me a week after covid-19 hit Manitoba before I was finally able to get back to my morning quiet time routine. I was still praying on the go but I couldn't get alone, still or quiet. Once I was able to, I found my thinking became clearer, my gut less anxious, and I felt peace.
Solitude. Stillness. Silence. Three spiritual disciplines that help me to draw near to God.
Solitude - being alone - even if it is only by closing a door or turning my chair away from the action in the room - helps me to focus my attention on God. It gives me an opportunity to pay attention to Him instead of all the other demands of life. In those times alone with God I journal, pray, and read the Bible. You may have other ways of spending time with God alone such as worshiping through music or writing out your prayers.
Stillness of my body - usually through sitting in a chair but sometimes standing, kneeling or bowing before the Lord - helps me acknowledge that I can come before Him. Right now. Right here. I am in God's presence. There is no where that I have to go. Nothing that I have to do because Jesus has reconciled me to the Father. I can confidently draw near to the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16). I can stand still in awe of Him.
Silence - external and internal - helps me to listen. First to all the noise in me which I deal with by writing my to-do lists or offering concerns to God in prayer. Then it helps me listen for the Spirit's leading. "My sheep hear My voice" Jesus says in John 10:27 (ESV). This motivates me to invest time in listening. Silence is the hardest of the three disciplines for me - probably because I love to talk so much - so I try to do it only for a few moments or minutes by fixing the attention of my mind on my breathing, orienting my heart towards loving God and receiving His love, and waiting.
As you've read my descriptions of solitude, stillness, and silence, maybe one of them has stood out to you as something you want to try. In these days of uncertainty and major change to our daily lives, let me urge you to make time to be with the Lord. I pray that you would experience His joy over you and the contentedness that comes from knowing His love.
in Christ,
Tracy
These are very unique and challenging times. I think that is what motivated me to blog today. Thinking of all of you living your lives under the stress and strain of the corona virus pandemic and wanting to reach out to let you know you are not alone. Truly not alone - God is with you.
Zephaniah 3:17 comes to mind:
"The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save;
he will rejoice over you with gladness;
he will quiet you by his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing."
Side note: All of a sudden I am 20 years old and I am listening to the Bob Fits song based on that verse.
Seriously though, I didn't write this to start reminiscing about back-combed bangs and 80's worship music! (Although that might bring up some fun memories for some of you. 😊 )
Back to our verse:
"The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save"
What does it mean for you to know that the LORD is in your midst? That He is with you right now?
Do you find yourself drawing near to Him in this time of stress or are you too distracted and unsettled?
It took me a week after covid-19 hit Manitoba before I was finally able to get back to my morning quiet time routine. I was still praying on the go but I couldn't get alone, still or quiet. Once I was able to, I found my thinking became clearer, my gut less anxious, and I felt peace.
Solitude. Stillness. Silence. Three spiritual disciplines that help me to draw near to God.
Solitude - being alone - even if it is only by closing a door or turning my chair away from the action in the room - helps me to focus my attention on God. It gives me an opportunity to pay attention to Him instead of all the other demands of life. In those times alone with God I journal, pray, and read the Bible. You may have other ways of spending time with God alone such as worshiping through music or writing out your prayers.
Stillness of my body - usually through sitting in a chair but sometimes standing, kneeling or bowing before the Lord - helps me acknowledge that I can come before Him. Right now. Right here. I am in God's presence. There is no where that I have to go. Nothing that I have to do because Jesus has reconciled me to the Father. I can confidently draw near to the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16). I can stand still in awe of Him.
Silence - external and internal - helps me to listen. First to all the noise in me which I deal with by writing my to-do lists or offering concerns to God in prayer. Then it helps me listen for the Spirit's leading. "My sheep hear My voice" Jesus says in John 10:27 (ESV). This motivates me to invest time in listening. Silence is the hardest of the three disciplines for me - probably because I love to talk so much - so I try to do it only for a few moments or minutes by fixing the attention of my mind on my breathing, orienting my heart towards loving God and receiving His love, and waiting.
As you've read my descriptions of solitude, stillness, and silence, maybe one of them has stood out to you as something you want to try. In these days of uncertainty and major change to our daily lives, let me urge you to make time to be with the Lord. I pray that you would experience His joy over you and the contentedness that comes from knowing His love.
in Christ,
Tracy
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