Life Squirrelly? Make time for solitude and prayer
There was birdseed out at various places along the trail, so the local birds and squirrels were quite well-fed. This big black squirrel couldn’t decide whether I was a friend or foe. He came close and watched me for a while, but he lost interest when he decided I wasn’t going to feed him.
Squirrels aren’t noted for having a particularly long attention span. Sort of like many people, myself included. That is why most of us are not good at the Christian disciplines of reading the Word, praying, meditating on the things of God, or even caring for one another.
Even Jesus needed some structure. He withdrew to quiet places for meditation and attended worship regularly.
And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. Mark 1:35
Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. Matthew 14:13
And [Jesus] came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him Luke 4:16-17
I can’t imagine Jesus getting any time in prayer without being intentional. He had His disciples to attend to and great crowds of needy people demanding His attention.
Perhaps we don’t have great crowds of people clamouring after us (although it can feel that way), but life has a way of throwing distractions at us nonetheless. All of us can have reasons (excuses?) for why we are too busy for the things that matter eternally.
The phone rings, or you “Need” to check your email or FaceBook. Perhaps some household chores need doing, or the children or your spouse want your attention. The list of potential distractions is endless and varies from person to person. They can change depending on the stage of life. Perhaps we are busy with our studies or career, or maybe it is looking after a young family. For the elderly, it might be that we don’t get to things as quickly as we used to.
All that can get in the way without needing any help from the enemy to sidetrack us.
Practicing the disciplines of the Christian life isn’t an easy task. It is something we need to work at with the help of the Spirit.
As we become more aware of them and attentive to doing them, they become more manageable. It takes time and effort to change our behaviours and thought processes. The effort pays off with great dividends.
Pick an area of the Christian life that you need to concentrate on. Perhaps it is Bible reading or prayer. Maybe it is fasting or getting to worship regularly. Each of us is different.
You might need to experiment with the time of day or place. Maybe it is early in the morning before anyone else arises, maybe on your lunch break, or it might be the last thing before bed for some. No time to read the Word, listen to it while driving, or attend to household chores.
Find what works for you and stick to it. Once you have made that one discipline part of your regular routine, consider adding a second one.
Stick with it and fight the urge to be squirrelly and easily distracted. The effort will pay huge dividends in your faith walk.
Be Blessed
Hallelu Yah / Praise God
Kevin