A blizzard hammered New England recently. Then an ice storm plagued the Northeast. I’m not in favor of power outages and treacherous roads, but I do enjoy a quiet day at home making hot chocolate for my husband when he plows our driveway. It gives me time to stop, look, and listen.
STOP AND SMELL THE ROSES
Our lives get busy, don’t they? Work commands our days, while taxiing kids to practice, games, or rehearsals overtakes our evenings. We race from one task to another without enjoying the moment. We focus more on completing responsibilities than on developing relationships, but it’s those relationships that breathe life into us. Busyness is like having a bad cold—We can’t stop and smell the roses.
Let’s take a deep breath.
THE IMPORTANCE OF RELATIONSHIP
Jesus taught the disciples the importance of relationship when they tried to shoo the kids away who wanted to see Him. Yes, Jesus was emphasizing that children are important and that we need to believe like a child, but Jesus also showed the disciples that a busy day of ministry, even when there were pressing needs, wasn’t as important as relationship.
We are His children, and every time we turn to touch Him and connect with His Presence, He stops what He’s doing to be with us.
ARE WE DOING THINGS FOR GOD OR ACHIEVING THINGS TOGETHER?
I spent most of my life as a Christian trying to accomplish things for God. But God would rather I spent time with Him. When I sit at His feet to enjoy His company, He will share what we are to accomplish together. When I stop, look, and listen to God, I discover my destiny.
A BETTER WAY
When I examined why I do things for Him instead of with Him, I realized I did things for Him out of my own strength. I pushed myself. “Try a little harder” was my mantra and I didn’t even realize it. I had developed an “I can do it myself” stance.
But there’s a better way.
Psalm 138:6 in the amplified version says, “Though the Lord is exalted, He regards the lowly [and invites them into His fellowship]; but the proud He knows from a distance.”
This scripture gives us a key to knowing Jesus better—humility. Jesus invites the humble into His Presence.
Here’s how I look at it.
Let’s say I’m sitting on a high stool. If someone is sitting next to me on a high stool, it makes sense that I can see their face more closely than I can someone who is sitting on the floor at my feet. But God, who is high and lifted up, sees the lowly face to face.
When I try to reach higher in my own effort, I’m operating with my ability. But when I humbly acknowledge I can’t do anything without God’s help, I can achieve my destiny.
“Jesus called a little one to his side and said to them, ‘Learn this well: Unless you dramatically change your way of thinking and become teachable like a little child, you will never be able to enter in. Whoever continually humbles himself to become like this little child is the greatest one in heaven’s kingdom realm.’” Matthew 18:2-4 TPT
SEEK JESUS’ FACE
When I seek the face of Jesus like a child, He reaches down and invites me into His Presence. He sets me on His lap, wraps His arm around me, and speaks to me of all He has made me to be.
All I need to do is stop, look, and listen to Him.