Join us this Sunday! In-Person 9:00am & 10:45am, Online 9:00am, 10:45am & 5:00pm

Join us this Sunday! In-Person 9:00am & 10:45am, Online 9:00am, 10:45am & 5:00pm

Join us at the next Sunday worship service:
In-Person
9:00am & 10:45am,
Online 9:00am, 10:45am & 5:00pm

Peace And Quiet

“Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray. Later Simon and the others went out to find him. 37 When they found him, they said, “Everyone is looking for you.” – Mark 11:35-37. 

There are thousands of luxuries being advertised that are supposed to make life easier. Those things appeal to us because who doesn’t dream of living a simple, worry-free life – a life uninterrupted by the chaos we face in our daily lives. But living a simpler life is seldom simple. Making life simpler doesn’t involve some sort of luxury or program:  it starts with turning towards God and removing any clutter in your life. One of the best ways to achieve a simpler, stress-free life is to have a quiet time with God. God has the power to not only comfort your heart but also to remove any confusion, anxiety, clutter, and pain from your life. 

Setting aside regular time in our schedules to focus on our heavenly Father is the best way to make sure we hear His “still, small voice” when He speaks to us. Too often having a quiet time is seen as a luxury when we have less on our to-do list rather than a daily necessity. If that is our mindset, we are missing out on the blessings that come from making daily time with God a priority in our lives.

So what’s a quiet time? Well, it says in Scripture that Jesus would often withdraw to a quiet place in order to pray. Mark 11:35 says“Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray.” During this quiet time, Jesus habitually removed himself from the busyness of life and spent time in intimate communion with His Father.

If Jesus needed this time apart with the Father, it would seem logical to assume we need it just as much, if not more so. We need time each day when we remove ourselves from the busyness and ever-increasing demands of life to spend time praying, reading God’s Word, and quietly listening to what God has to say to us.  You cannot get to know someone unless you spend time with them, and you cannot get to know God unless you spend time with Him. Philippians 3:7-9 (CEV) says, “But Christ has shown me that what I once thought was valuable is worthless. Nothing is as wonderful as knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have given up everything else and count it all as garbage. All I want is Christ and to know that I belong to him.” 

What does it practically mean to “know” Jesus? What does that pursuit look like, what should it look like in your everyday life? Few questions are more important. Deep down, I truly believe every Christian wants to experience a deeply personal and intimate relationship with God. A quiet time is an effective vehicle to better know God not just in your head but in your heart. A quiet time can be life-changing.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you have a regular quiet time? Why or why not?
  2. What different ways have you tried to intentionally connect with God? Were some more meaningful or impactful than others? Why do you think that might be?
  3. What would it take for you to make this a priority in your life?

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