It’s quiet right now. So very quiet. No music plays. No television shows echo in the background. There is no scrolling Twitter feed in front of me, and no Facebook notifications illuminating my phone. It is exactly the place I need to be right now.
I need this quiet to crush the power of the false positive.
I know better. We all know better. But even greatly seasoned souls can get caught up in the false positive. It happens gently, when we are pouring ourselves into the most wonderful of activities – ministering with all we have to offer, serving others, spending time in rich conversation with those who have the same passions as we do. We run headlong into the beauty of the moment and find ourselves feeling so alive, so safe, so saved. The glow of the light of community reflects brightly on us, and we feel so near to God.
And we confuse the beauty of that sense of nearness with our own need to be truly near Him. We allow the false positive to woo us away from irreplaceable time with the Lord. Time to worship, time to pray, time to listen. Time for Him to redeem us, restore us, remind us once again of just how beloved we really are, so we may pour ourselves into the most wonderful of activities with true power and grace.
And so it is with me as of late. In the beauty of community and ministry and service, I’ve allowed that time – that precious first-thing-in-the-morning time – to be swallowed up. I’ve fallen into the trap I encourage others to be so wary of. I’ve been enticed by the power of the false positive.
And that power is crushed today. In the quiet. In reading and prayer and listening, I find precious time. If you are feeling like me, if you are needing the quiet, know that my prayers are for you to find time too – because I want you to shine so very brightly.
Why is it so important that you are with God and God alone on the mountain top? It’s important because it’s the place in which you can listen to the voice of the One who calls you the beloved. To pray is to listen to the One who calls you “my beloved daughter,” “my beloved son,” “my beloved child.” To pray is to let that voice speak to the centre of your being, to your guts, and let that voice resound in your whole being. ~Henri Nouwen
I needed this reminder today, Ronne! I’ve been so thankful for the positive in my life lately – so “impressed” that I have been able to get through a difficult time with the power of community, purpose and family.
Those things are life-giving, and deserve credit for so much.
But it is in these times, often more than times of turmoil, that I can do exactly this. I so quickly forget my need for Him, my need to be still. I grow content – even proud – at how well I am doing, how good things are. Even if I’m aware it’s in His power I get through difficult days, I fail to remember my need to let Him wash over me with a truth and love so much deeper even than “how well things are going”.
Thank you for the beautiful reminder!
Jennifer, I’m thankful we’re walking this road together. We can hold each other up in prayer!
I needed this today. Thankful for you and your amazing spirit.
Thankful for YOU, Tammy.
Ronne,this is so beautiful,so true,I love these times with Him & I together in the quite solitude,
hearing whispers so faintly,so soft,so loving.
Thank you for sharing!Praise Our Heavenly Father,The Almighty One,Our Lord & Savior.
Dinah, you are a consistent reminder of just how beautiful a life hidden in Christ can be. Love you.
Loved this, thanks for sharing needed this!
The most challenging verse in the bible for me: “Be still, and know that I am God”.
Ronne, enjoyed this post. I’ve found that when I spend the first 30 minutes of my day with the Lord, the rest of my day flows with productivity and creativity. Still, it’s easy to get side-tracked. Thank you for sharing this.
Just catching up on blogs Ronne. This one is very much like my post from today – STILL http://themarkcryan.com/2013/08/20/still/ – we truly do need to just stop sometimes.
Thank you for this, Ronne. I need a reminder to take a deep breath, slow down, and just live life for a change.
Great words, Ronne…as usual. Thanks so much for sharing. Years ago I saw Larnelle Harris in concert and his testimony regarding the inspiration for “I Miss My Time With You” spoke to me then and has so many times since. It’s a great song, but the line that hit me squarely in the heart
“You’re too busy, busy trying to serve Me
But how can you serve Me
When your spirit’s empty”
And that’s exactly what happens when we get so busy doing good things that we forget the ultimate thing…regular time, resting in our Lord, listening, being still….Thanks again, Ronne.
I keep learning this. One day, perhaps I’ll learn it well. 🙂
And FINALLY, here’s the quote I was looking for last night…..
“We have become so engrossed in the work of the Lord that we have forgotten the Lord of the work.” A.W. Tozer