Be Still, Listen, and Seek

A dear friend and mentor told me one day to be still and listen. I had been on a path of worry, frustration, and in a whirlwind of to do lists--my devotional was just another one of the items to check off my list.  I felt guilty if I did not read my devotional, like God would be mad or disappointed. But when I was so concerned with just checking something off my list and something like a devotional became a job, I knew I had to make a change. God did not want that time to be a job, but wanted it to be a moment of peace and love. So what I did was stop. I stopped doing my devotionals over the summer and did as my dear friend said--I stopped and listened. And when I stopped I heard--I mean really heard what I needed to.In this world there I constantly feel like I am go go going. It is hard to feel like I have a moment to myself, and when I do I just want to veg out and watch tv. At the end of the summer I began my devotionals again and though I forget sometimes, I find myself looking forward to those moments where I can sit down and read and feel the peace that God provides. Now my devotionals are feeding my soul, and quenching my thirst. Over Christmas I felt an overwhelming sense of peace, love, and joy that I have never felt before. But now as I have come off that Jesus high I find myself seeking for this experience again.My devotional time takes a solid hour and sometimes more. It is hard to find an hour a day where I can just sit, be alone, and do my devotionals--but I am working hard to keep myself on track. That peace and rest I found over break came from a consistent working at God and my relationship. Tonight I read something in my Jesus Calling: Enjoying His Peace in His Presence by Sarah Young that reminded me that it is not all about me in this relationship, there are two people here and I am just one. "Together we can make it!" (Sarah Young 19). I am not alone, God is with me and together we can make it through everything. I have to make that time for God, Jesus often gave the instructions to:"Follow Me." (John 21:19)"Then he said to them all, 'If any want to become followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it'" (Luke 9:23-24).[Offering Living Water] And Jesus said to her, 'Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life'" (John 4:13-14).I have to make the choice to seek out God and that time, and now I have found myself wanting to deepen our relationship. I struggle with insecurities and not recognizing my value--I often feel like I am not enough. But drinking in this Living Water is helping me, and I know that I am not alone in whatever hardship I may face.So my charge for you this week is to be still, listen, and seek. Whether in need of a drink of living water, rest, help, or thanksgiving--be still, listen, and seek.[Psalm 27:8-9] "'Come my heart says, 'seek his face!' Your face, Lord, do I seek. Do not hide your face from me." (When you seek God--God will not hide)May the Peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.