Tuesday, May 16, 2023

It's so easy to fall into the trap of being busy. After all, we have so much we have to do every day: take someone there, drop someone here, get the kids’ shoes … oh, look, a squirrel! We overwhelm ourselves with busyness, but every once in a while, we need to take a break. This is where the first letter in the P.R.A.Y. acronym comes into play. We need to pause.

I, for one, like to stay busy. However, if I give myself too much time to do what I want, I feel like I don't always make the best choices in how I spend that time—Playstation, TV—nothing productive. If only I took a moment or two to pause and remind myself to prioritize spending time with my heavenly Father every day. I guarantee I wouldn't feel like time spent praying was wasted. In fact, those times often feel like the best moments of my day, and the most rewarding.

Psalms 46:10
“Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.”

What is crazy to me, though, is that the sound of our voices talking and praying to God and our pauses to hear his response are music to his ears. We honor him by talking to him or about him, and he honors us by listening and responding. 

We are never truly alone because God is always available to listen. If you think about it, it is us who don't take the time to talk to him. Then we wonder why we no longer feel the connection we once had with him. God is waiting for us to speak, it shouldn't be the other way around. Trust me, I know how hard it is to pause everything, be still, and focus on anything for any length of time. Sometimes, I find it’s easier to make excuses … hey, that squirrel is back! 

We could all learn from Susanne Wesley, who put everything on hold to spend intentional time with God. I’m sure I would get a few stares if I threw an apron over my head to pray, but it is a good reminder that we all need to schedule these pauses into our day. Afterall, the only way to enjoy God’s presence is to slow down. 

Take a pause and pray.

Every once in a while, I like to go to one of my favorite spots in the woods and just sit with my Bible. I read, pray, and listen to the beautiful sounds that come with the scenery. It's musical and soothing. I like to think that the comfort I get from listening to the sounds around me in the woods is similar to how God feels when I honor him with my prayers and time.

Questions:
When was the last time you took a pause to pray and listen for God to speak to you? Do you have a place to go and take that pause or do you make it wherever you are?

Next Steps:
Pick a time every day this week to press pause and give that time to God. Sit still, pause, and pray. Listen for the ways God speaks to you. 

Prayer:
God, I know you because you know me. Whenever I pause to listen to you, you speak and let it be known to me that I am yours, that you care for me. When I need you, I know you are there. I trust what is in store for my life because I trust you with everything I have. I pray that you help me to pause more to talk to you. I also pray that my church family can find the time in their days to pause as well. Time spent with you is time well spent, and I'm thankful. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Series Theme Verse:
Luke 8:15
And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest.