One-Woman Show

So, here I am starting a blog. I've always been someone who has to write or talk something out to make it click, so I am endeavoring to share my personal victories and struggles in an attempt to make sense of them myself and hopefully to help someone else out who might be in a similar boat.

This past weekend, I went to a 3-day Christian music festival. It was my first time there and the experience was incredible! Being constantly surrounded by people who love God and seeing concerts all day, every day dedicated to praising and worshiping Him is an indescribable feeling. When 8,000-9,000 people gather together with a like mind to sing and worship God, it's breathtaking. I mean, God's presence is there.

While I was there, I had somewhat of a revelation. Praying, worshiping, or any sort of communication with God is a conversation. Conversations have two sides, not one (unless you're like me and you talk to yourself all the time ;D). But anyway, in communication with Jesus, we only are one side of the conversation, not both. Of course, that seems extremely obvious, and maybe I'm the only one who does this, but I frequently try to be both sides. I do it subconsciously, but it happens. I try to fit God into my little box of what I think His presence and communication is like, what He'll say, and how it will feel when He speaks to my heart. He is the God of the universe and my puny little human mind thinks that I can take over his side of the conversation! How absurd is that?

Perhaps I want to feel His presence and to hear from His heart so much that I don't wait for His actual response, but instead I try to fill in His side of the conversation as well as mine. That is a recipe for disaster. I am human, flawed and frail, while God is perfect and sovereign over all. I think it's safe to say that we too often get in the habit of "squeezing in" our time with God so that we rush and don't take the time to rest at His feet, quiet our hearts and minds, and let Him do the talking. Psalm 37:7a says "Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him." We take our time for everything else, yet we can't take out time for our Savior? That's backwards. I can't imagine saying to Jesus, Son of God, who gave up his LIFE for us "You know, I'm really busy right now, but I'll try to get you in"?

What I'm trying to say, more to myself than anyone, is have a regular time each day that is spent truly secluded, alone, free of any and all distractions dedicated to communicating with God. Jesus did it in Luke 5:16: "And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed." If you're a planner like me, write it down, schedule your day if necessary. I've heard this so many times and I have yet to do it. Maybe you're like me in that way. It's time to get out of our own way and make the change. It's the absolute LEAST we can do for our King.

"Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth."

~ Psalm 46:10