Stop and Listen
Luke 10:38-42; Psalm 27
"Hear my voice when I call, O Lord; be merciful to me and answer me. My heart says of you, 'Seek his face!' Your face, Lord, I will seek. Do not hide your face from me..."
(Psalm 27:7-8)
Georgia's life was like a treadmill programmed to run faster than she could. A crash was imminent. In her early years she had rebelliously made choices that were far from wise. Then as life continued to speed out of control, everything careened off course and her husband divorced her. Quite literally, her life fell apart.
In the following months Georgia made the drastic decision to walk away from her life as it existed, completely breaking the cycle. She chose to go the opposite direction, into the arms of Jesus who called her. She truly wanted to stop and listen to God speak to her, hearing His call to cast her burdens upon Him. Creating space for Him in her life became her passion and daily pursuit as she began reading the Bible, chapter by chapter, day after day. What a difference the stopping made for her! At the core of her decision was a longing to know God again like she had as a child. When she stopped long enough, she found herself face to face with Jesus once again. Could it be that we too need to stop in order to listen?
INSIGHT
Remembering Mary and Martha, are you better at "doing" or "being"? Stopping and listening to God is all about "being".
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Numbers 33-34
Psalm 78
John 20
Luke 10:38-42
New International Version (NIV)
At the Home of Martha and Mary
38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" 41 "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one.[a] Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."
Footnotes:
a. Luke 10:42 Some manuscripts but only one thing is needed
Psalm 27
Of David.
1 The LORD is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When the wicked advance against me
to devour[a] me,
it is my enemies and my foes
who will stumble and fall.
3 Though an army besiege me,
my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
even then I will be confident.
4 One thing I ask from the LORD,
this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the LORD
and to seek him in his temple.
5 For in the day of trouble
he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent
and set me high upon a rock.
6 Then my head will be exalted
above the enemies who surround me;
at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make music to the LORD.
7 Hear my voice when I call, LORD;
be merciful to me and answer me.
8 My heart says of you, "Seek his face!"
Your face, LORD, I will seek.
9 Do not hide your face from me,
do not turn your servant away in anger;
you have been my helper.
Do not reject me or forsake me,
God my Savior.
10 Though my father and mother forsake me,
the LORD will receive me.
11 Teach me your way, LORD;
lead me in a straight path
because of my oppressors.
12 Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
for false witnesses rise up against me,
spouting malicious accusations.
13 I remain confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the LORD
in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the LORD;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the LORD.
Footnotes:
a. Psalm 27:2 Or slander
HONOR THE SACRIFICE [PART 1]
God promises those who honor Him, He will honor. But how does God want us to honor Him?
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