Some people work two or three jobs to supply their family with the lifestyle they believe they need. When does the workaholic have time to spend alone with God, with family, and with friends? How can they allow their body and soul to rest from stress if they do not have “down” time periodically?
As authentic Born Again Believers, we can continually walk in fulfillment, and we find joy in the simplest revelation of our Heavenly Father’s goodness. Alone (All-one) time with God allows us to enter that place of abiding, which connects us to Him and fills us with His Holy Spirit.
Salvation through Jesus Christ is a free gift; we do not earn it by our behavior (Romans 6:23, Ephesians 2:8-9). The gift of God's presence, however, entails our obedience and love for Him. Walking in God's Spirit allows us to maintain this constant communion with the lover of our soul (Galatians 5:16-25).
It also helps us to stop the good activities, which we are invited to participate in, from becoming the enemy of God's best for us. If we do not feel God’s peace about some aspect in our life, we can pause and take a searching inventory of our thoughts, choices, and emotions.
Once we pin-point the source of the unrest in our soul, which is causing our negative thoughts, emotions, and physical health, we can seek God’s wisdom about what to do in order to change these circumstances and to enter His rest instead.
Constant busyness keeps us in continual stress and turmoil. Do we really need a two-family income, a new car, family phones, premium cable channels, clothes from the mall, the hottest toys on the market, etc? A simple lifestyle gives us more time for God and people rather than possessions.
Abiding in Christ provides us with an opportunity to enter God’s rest, to soak up His presence and to operate from a sense of His peace. His joy gives us needed vitality to meet the trials of the day (Psalm 46:1-3). His wisdom and goodness enable us to succeed. His love assures us that we matter to Him, and always will.
Prayer:
Father God, remind us to make time every day to stop all activity and to cuddle in Your lap, as the little children that we still are within us (Matthew 19:14; Psalm 131:2). Help us to allow You to immerse us in Your love as we love You with our whole heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30). Teach us to walk in Your Spirit each moment of our day.
We admit that we are powerless and cannot control the events in our life, so we relinquish all control to You and Your perfect will for our life (Ephesians 2:10). Remind us to take the time to be still and to focus on the fact that You are God and there is no one like You (Psalm 46:10). We want to serve You from a place of obedience to Your Spirit’s guidance rather than by our human efforts.
Thought for the Day:
Our hectic lifestyle prevents us from entering the serenity available to us through God's presence; but as we love the Lord with our entire heart, having no idols in His place and ordering our steps to seek Him throughout the day, He will provide us with His love, wisdom, truth, and guidance.
- Hebrews 4:1-16; Proverbs 3:5-6
