Day 18 – Issue 16

Be Still Know

Ephesians 3:17 NLT

‘Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.’

God’s attraction is evident. However, the distractions that interrupt our gaze and pursuit of God are legion and persuasive. All of us will know the ways we find to avoid spending time with God. It has taken me years to establish the pattern of my morning office, to interrupt life at lunchtime for a prayer and even now I am inconsistent with evening prayer. My intention is clear, my declaration authentic, yet my capability is questionable. Why is this?

It’s because many distractions draw us away from God. The moment I think of God, my mind is assaulted with innumerable outstanding things I need to do. Or I drift into unhealthy thoughts about sex. Again anxiety rises to the surface and I promise I’ll return to prayer the moment I’ve resolved these anxieties. All self-deceive, naturally.

The response is not any attempt to resolve the distractions before returning to God. This simply engages my mind and my activity with the distractions. What I need to do is pause and return to the place of rest within, where Christ already resides in my heart.

Jayne is undergoing some intrusive and stressful medical treatment at present. While I can support her, pray for her and accompany her along her pathway, I cannot step into her shoes and remove her from such treatment. While she understandably focuses on this treatment it is a wonder to me that my greatest gift is to offer a pair of open arms, a warm embrace and a shoulder upon which she might rest her head. It makes no difference, and yet it makes all the difference. She finds safety, acceptance and courage within my loving arms. While my embrace may not be the first place to which she turns, consumed with her treatment, once she returns there she finds great comfort.

And so it is with God; stepping into God’s loving embrace does not mean that the realities represented by those distractions go away, but I am at least comforted and encouraged.

QUESTION: Do you know the love of God that lies within you?

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you that your loving arms are always ready to embrace me because of Christ.