Daily Devotional: Thursday, May 13

Speaker: Ben Sigman

Theme: I'm Overwhelmed

Weekend Music links on iTunes: Let the Praises Ring by Lincoln Brewster; God is With Us by Michael Olson; How Great is Our God/How Great Thou Art by Chris Tomlin; You'll Come by Hillsong.

Read   Revelation 12:10-11; Psalm 46:10; Matthew 11:28-30; Mark 1:35-37_NLT

Think: Lately, I’ve been inundated with messages to strengthen and nurture my soul and spend time in solitude.  The urging is to go beyond bible study, prayer and worship.   It is to be still before the Lord while focusing on His attributes or a particular scripture.    There is a struggle within me to spend time in solitude.   I tried it once and it didn’t work.  No really, I often begin…but it’s so hard to turn off my brain!  Within moments, I’m usually back at list-making or other concerns that distract me.   An easier choice, especially at the end of the day is the TV remote and a comfortable sofa  or some web “work” or that stack of half-read books I’d like to finish. 

Recent studies show that people in the US are working an average of 300 more hours a year than our counterparts in Europe and we spend an average of 5 hours a day watching TV and 3-4 times more hours shopping each week than they do in Europe.    Our lives are overly busy and we are a stressed and somewhat unhealthy population, as a whole.   Studies on the science of happiness are revealing that even though we have more money and stuff than previous generations, our happiness is declining.  Our busy lives rife with distractions disable us from quieting our heart and soul long enough to hear from the Holy One.  But, this is not a problem too big for the Almighty.   

Jesus heading out to the wilderness to pray, models for us this practical panacea to spiritual unrest.  He’s made a way for natural man to appeal to God and receive His supernatural intercession in our lives.     The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame.  You will be like a well-watered garden, lie a spring whose waters never fail. Isaiah 58:11 (NIV)

Do: Pray throughout the day and receive the peace and guidance God brings as your worries are turned over to Him and your needs are met.   Study the word of God and memorize His promises.  Think about His redeeming love for you and the testimony He has given you, which empowers you to overcome the distractions that prevent us from being still before the Lord.  Be still.

Pray: Thank you, Jesus, for giving me rest.  You are gentle and humble and I do find rest in You.  Thank you for rescuing me and for dying to save me.  It is by Your blood and my testimony that I have overcome the distractions that kept me from being still before You.  Help me to practice solitude before You until I am like a well-watered garden.

The eDevotional is written each week by a team of volunteers from Timberlake Church.

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