Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in
Jesus declared, "Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in
Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth." Excerpt From John 4: 20-24
Today’s Reading: 2 Kings 19-21: John 4:1-30
Yesterday was a tough day for me.
It seemed like everything that could go wrong did go wrong. Office politics are at an all time high. As a result of this, I got to work super early to get a head start on things but by the time 2 pm rolled around I was still spinning my wheels.
I did not have enough information to do what needed to be done. The people that I needed to work with were hostile and uncooperative, and my patience was running thin.
Plus, I was under some tough time constraints. It seemed like both ends were pressing against the middle. I didn’t know what to do.
So I decided to stop what I was doing, take a mental time out, and look at things from the outside looking in. I went to one of my favorite go to passages in the Bible to seek inspiration but I was so stressed that I couldn’t finish reading it!
So I was like wait one damn minute here! I know I can read! What the hell is going on.
It was then that I remembered to pray for a second.
Some call it mediation others call it prayer. Call it what you will. But right at my desk I just closed my eyes and listened. I cleared my mind and tried to open myself to receive and once I did this an overwhelming peace came over me.
We don’t have to be in a special building to connect to God. God is all around us all of the time. This isn’t a statement against places of worship but more an acknowledgement that we are not limited by them.
We can connect to God whenever and wherever we want to.
So whenever you need to call on that power from on high remember that you don’t have to wait till Sunday to do so.
Just take a deep breath, ask your question, quiet your mind, and wait for the answer.
The answer will come.
P.S. Yes... I did manage to get everything done that needed to get done after this... in less time than I spent before when I was trying to do it on my own... go figure...
A Great and timely reminder. Just as we might run into situtations where there seems to be trouble lurking at every turn, even more potent is the help that is always present with God.
ReplyDeleteMine is this....breathe in and in my head say "God!" Breathe out..."Thank you." Breathe in..."God!" Breathe out...."I'm listening." I so over and over and a little goes a long way, as you so wisely said.
ReplyDeleteSo true that reconnecting with spirit and God can just help you "see".
ReplyDeleteI have so many methods to do this it would be unfair for me take up so much space trying to share. BUUT to give you a few: walk outside, dance, train capoeira, laugh (a lot), listen to music, read...oh wait that list is starting.
@Paula and Alegria Thank you for sharing your processes. I just started a discussion question on my facebook group. Please share with us there how you connect to God and how you started doing it that way! Here's the link.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.facebook.com/topic.php?topic=57&uid=127046517309712#!/topic.php?uid=127046517309712&topic=57
aww drats.. the link isn't hot... but you can go to the A Convo With God FB group to chime in!
ReplyDeleteHahahaha. Man of God, I'm not laughing at you, I just understand how you feel and its tickling me.
ReplyDeleteOh my God...do I understand.
"So I was like wait one damn minute here! I know I can read! What the hell is going on. It was then that I remembered to pray for a second."
I'm just really glad you learned something from this horrible experience. Its these times when we grow the most.
When we are "hard pressed" and decide to step outside of ourselves and trust God to move...or do something cause you bout to hurt somebody.
It really feels good when the release comes. Thank God for the Comforter who brings relief to those places of hurt and anguish.
But....I'm still tickled.:):D
I look forward to each of your posts!
ReplyDeletePrayer in secret (Matthew 6:5-8)
In secret: Jesus wants our prayer to be pure, for God alone.
At your desk you found that "secret spot".
‘But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father Who is in secret; and your Father Who sees in secret will reward you’.
In secret: ‘Secret’ implies something that is separated, set aside, (from the Latin secernere), a place apart, in solitude, in the depths of the heart, beyond the sound of words, in silence, alone with the Father, in the silence of the Father. For the Father is there, in that secret place, He sees in secret. Only the Father!
The Gospels always show us Jesus on His own when He is praying. In solitude, He can assume the meaning of His own unique existence in the presence of the Father.
Thanks again for your Convo!
@Nic hahahah I see you clownin homie! And it is funny in a way. I know exactly what you mean. Once I realized what was going on and how I had let it beat me for a second I laughed to myself too. haha. Thanks for the love as always.
ReplyDelete@Anonymous Thank you for your comments! The secret place is interesting. When I was growing up I always had a secret place that I would go to. I'm sure I'll write about it sometime soon. But once I discovered that that secret place could be anywhere that i was... that was so liberating. It is a powerful switch in understanding.
ReplyDelete"So whenever you need to call on that power from on high remember that you don’t have to wait till Sunday to do so.
ReplyDeleteJust take a deep breath, ask your question, quiet your mind, and wait for the answer."
This is so important to remember... When I am going through a rough day or tough times I often find myself saying "Man, I wish today were Sunday" or "If only it were Wednesday, then I could go to bible study!" But I have to remind myself that God is not confined to the 4 walls of a church, He is everywhere! While I do think its important for me to hear the Word at a church and "refuel" my spiritual tank, this post was a comforting reminder.
I would love to hear more about how you "quiet your mind" and from any of your readers! I really struggle with quieting my thoughts and really being able to listen to God and the Holy Spirit... any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks as always :)
Try starting with Our Father, the perfect prayer, repeating it a few times with reflection always gets me there!
ReplyDeleteAnonymous makes a great point. The Lord's Prayer is very complete. It covers all aspects of life. But if you're gonna use that one be sure to pause after every phrase and really meditate about what you are saying. It's easy to kill that prayer by making it a ritual.
ReplyDeleteWhen is the last time that you actually thought about what it means when you said it? Maybe I'm the only one who has recited it without thinking about it's true meaning...
@Jasmine, whenever I find myself in a situation that is overwelming me, the first thing I do is call upon the Comforter. I simply say "comfort me now" and every single time it works. Holy Spirit is here and available for that very purpose. Just try it. :)
ReplyDeleteAn afterthought, I was a worship leader for many years. One of the hardest lessons I learned through that position was standing before God and His people.
ReplyDeleteTo minister with a heart that was readily open to connect with God and then lead others into that place of worship is more than just singing a song...when its true worship.
There were countless times when I had messed up the night before, or just didn’t feel like I was anybody worth the honor of that position. Yet I would boldly stand before God and open my mouth and worship Him. I didn't see any of the people...at that moment it was only me and God.
The presence of God would fill my heart as well as the room. It was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do...But is yet the sweetest of times I've ever had with God.
When everything around you says the opposite of what God is saying or has said...you've just got to step. And when you step....you are stepping out on the very words that God has spoken...you cannot fail.
That's all Peter did getting out of the boat...Peter simply stepped out on the words of Jesus saying come.