by David Brenneman
"After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone." Matthew 14:23.
"Social media sites, texting, email, the Internet, 24 hour news cycles on radio and television--it's almost impossible to find a place to be alone with your own thoughts. And if you do find yourself in a silent place, it's only because you turned off or left behind those devices that are designed to keep you occupied with "critical" information around the clock.
The information you receive from God and His Word is more important than anything else you might hear. As your Creator Heavenly Father, God wants to meet you in a quiet place.
Turn off the distractions and meet alone with the Father who waits for you." David Jeremiah 'Walking with God".
How often do you really stop to be alone with Jesus? How often is it really of importance to you? Beyond asking Him to bless the food you're about to eat. Beyond those moments when the unexpected happens and in a flash your life passes before your eyes and you cry out to Him.
Why oh why is hours on devices more important to most people these days? I admit I scroll through Facebook to keep up mostly with family and friends. Mainly because that's where whatever is to be known is found. My use outside of this is learning even more than what's in the news.
There's no end to drama skits where a so-called young adult is cut off from their phones and they literally break down because of the withdrawal. Some of those are actually real life examples.
In homes smart TV's are taking over. Might as well say these are the super mega smart phones.
I have been intentionally adding more time in my life for God and its starting to bear fruit. A peace that I can't explain is happening.
In many homes, whether believed or not, technology in its various forms, it now the new altar of the house.
People willingly take the joy and happiness they won't share with Jesus and offer it to a television. Hours spent there and it crushes them to give mere minutes to pray before Jesus.
We have a couple of televisions but I really couldn't tell you when they were last turned on. They aren't central in any room they are in.
How do you view time alone with your Savior and Lord?
If your devices were cut off from your life what would you be doing instead? When you really consider that when it will be, not if it might be, tested by the fires of God's truth...will your life turn to ashes?
"In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there." Mark 1:35.
Here's where the rubber meets the road. Are you as intentional with your quiet time with Jesus as you are with other things outside of work and taking care of your family?
I have delved into many instructionals online. Many many books on various subjects to learn things because I have a desire to know how things work or if I might use them to create something new. In my younger years I was heavily into science fiction. Today I wonder if there's more that I could be doing with my Savior and Lord than I am currently doing.
The worst thoughts we entertain are those that feed our selfish sin nature. You don't think that cravings and indulgent thoughts aren't being crafted just for you? Satan's schemes are all about you being separated from God in Christ Jesus. Either by way of his attempts to prevent you from salvation in Christ Jesus for the forgiveness of sins or by way of preoccupation to keep you from growing in Christ. His battle plan isn't complicated its just so blatantly obvious that people don't want to believe it. They foolishly believe they're making their own decisions. They disregard peer pressure. Disregard the subliminal messages in advertising. Disregard those moments when they let their guard down and will pay for those choices for the rest of their lives.
No it has nothing to do with fate. Our choices to obey God's Word or not to are laid at our own feet.
Our choices to be with the things of this world or with Jesus are laid at our own feet.
Our choices display for ourselves and the world around us as to who is more important...our wants, wishes and desires or those of whom we call Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ.
When you stand before Jesus to give an account of your life...
"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad." 2 Corinthians 5:10.
...what will your life show?
What's good, honest and true that was sown into your life by way of your relationship with Jesus will survive the fires of truth. Every single thing that wasn't will turn to ashes. Shame and regret will be what comes next.
"For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light." Colossians 1:9-12.
It's by God's design and His desire to have a personal relationship with you. Adam and Eve, before the fall, walked and talked with Jesus in the Garden of Eden. Jesus often got away to be with His Father in Heaven. Jesus commanded His Disciples to go and make more disciples...teaching them all that He commanded them. Among those things is intentional time with Jesus and God the Father.
It's not too late. Start today!
All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.
