Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Time at the Master's Feet

I am going to confess something to you: I have not had a consistent quiet time with my Lord for several months. MONTHS! I know, I know, you haven't either, but who's judging?

Well, convicttion came upon me. A gentlemen in our church told me how he gets up at 5:00 am to spend time with God before going to work. Here I am getting up at 6:00 am and going to work without spending any time with God. Usually, I would try and squeeze a time in during the evening after dinner or before. But, there would always be interruptions, and it is hard to focus. So, after I heard about the 5:00 am time, I knew I needed to get up and act like I love my Lord.

So, I get up at 5:30 and spend a half hour reading and preparing my mind for the day. What, you thought I was going to say I get up at 5:00 am? I'm not the Pope, just paul.

I am writing this to encourage all of us to make some time to be like Mary and do the better thing and sit at the Master's feet.

Whether it is in the morning or the evening, find a quiet place and a comfortable chair to be with Jesus.

I am following the year with a prayer guide I picked up at a book store years ago. It guides me through scripture readings and prayers throughout the year of certain topics. The next couple of things I do vary depending upon what I feel like doing: Oswald Chambers, "My Utmost (modern language edition);" "Magnificent Prayer" by Nick Harrison; "Spurgeon Gold" (a book of quotes from Spurgeon) by Ray Comfort; and a small Bible study using Precept Ministries material.

I can do this in about 30 minutes. How good it is to spend time with my Lord! I am confident that the Lord speaks directly to us through the Word. Any other words He gives to me during the day usually come filtered through what I read that morning. I have been going into work with more comfort and confidence than I have had in a long time.

Beloved, do the better thing and sit at the Master's feet.

1 comment:

Paula said...

I too have been convicted of not spending enough time in the Word or in prayer. When our pastor suggested we read the entire book of Nehemiah (after he told a little of his story), I decided to sit down and read it. That morning I had written a note and used the phrase that was in a song we used to sing "the joy of the Lord is my strength". I though I wonder where that is in the Bible. The last phrase in the last chapter of Nehemiah was "the joy of the Lord is my strength". I was flabbergasted, but why should I be when the Lord (not chance) brings answers to us that we didn't even remember talking to Him about. Since then I had read Ruth and Esther to remind myself of the testimony of these Godly women. My prayer list grows longer each day and some days I think do I need to pray for these people today. When someone mentions to me they are thankful I am praying for them, I know it is the best time I can spend in the whole day. When will we learn that the answer to our trials and circumstances come when we pray to God - not try to fix it ourselves. Thank you, Paul, for sharing your thoughts with me in Paul "The Lesser". This mom thinks you are pretty special. I knew from the moment I was told I was going to have a baby that God had His plan for your life. Enjoy your journey with Him and remember the JOY of the Lord is our strength.

In Christ alone, with love,

Mom