Not long ago a friend of mine took a sabbatical. It was well deserved. She had just finished a major accomplishment in her life, and she was seeking God for her next steps. I was thinking about this, and how Jesus also took time for himself to seek the Father as well as directed the disciples to steal away.
In Luke 4:12, 14-15 after Jesus was baptized, He spent 40 days praying in the wilderness. After this He was tempted by Satan and then began His public ministry. So, Jesus was getting prepared for a major task.
After the disciples returned from performing ministry, He encouraged them to separate from the people to get some rest. Mark 6:30-33.
When Jesus learned that his cousin, John the Baptist had been beheaded. He went away to grieve. Matthew 14:1-13
Before Jesus made a major decision he went alone to pray and the next day He chose his 12 disciples - Luke 6:12-13.
Just before Jesus was to be crucified, he went away to pray. Luke 22:39-44 says that he was in agony.
Luke 5:16 he went away to pray just to spend time with the Father.
I believe Jesus set these examples for all of us. We all need to take a step back from life and seek clarity and directions for our lives from God. Sometimes we know, but our mind can get in the way and make it a struggle. We may start out with the right intentions, but we can get distracted by the cares of the world. It’s not too late to go to God for clarity. Seek Him while you can. When was the last time you spent quality time with the Lord?
Spend time with God just to commune. “And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.“ Luke 5:16
Spend time with God before making major decisions. "And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles;” Luke 6:12-13
Spend time with God during hard times. “And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.“ Luke 22:44
By doing these things…over time, I’ve been learning how to incorporate Christ into every area of my life.
Below are two books that God has inspired me to write. "The Flip Side" and "Blinded By Sight: The Heart Matters" both available now.
So… what’s this book about?
“The Flip Side” depicts the possible feelings and emotions of lesser-known Biblical characters as they navigated their lives in the shadows of the more popular characters in the Bible. While the Bible gives us snippets of their stories, we are usually left in the dark about their true motives, desires, and thoughts concerning the situations they are in. However, one certainty is that despite how little we know about these characters, they were often the catalysts to pivotal moments in the main characters’ lives.
So… what’s this book about?
Join me on a journey of self-discovery. “Blinded by Sight - The Heart Matters” is a compilation of short biblical devotions. These stories are not conclusive. They are depictions of how God is revealing my heart to me.
My prayer is, Lord, make it real for me, show me your heart, show me my heart, and give me the wisdom to change what hinders my relationship with you. I am learning that my perception is my biggest obstacle it affects my mind, what I think, and how I process my experiences. What I have experienced in my mind is expressed through my feelings and these experiences dictate my choices either consciously or subconsciously.
This devotional will allow you to explore and evaluate your past and present situations that have hindered you from seeing the heart of the matter. Simply put, look at the heart – it does matter. Your future depends on it!
I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Psalms 34:4
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