Well, it’s that time of year again. Schools have choir, band, basketball, and football playoffs pulling students everywhere but the classroom. Parents have transportation duties on top of work, home, and holiday functions, and everyone seems to get farther behind the faster they get. The overwhelming feeling the holidays can bring is enough for some to lose any Christmas spirit they might have enjoyed. So, some may ask, “What would Jesus do?”
Did Jesus get angry? Yes, see Matt. 21:12-27 and Mark 11:12-14. Did Jesus need to get away from it all and find solitude from time to time? Yes, see Luke 2: 8-19, Luke 9:18, Luke 22:39-46, just to name a few. In fact, it appears the Son of Man frequently made time for peaceful prayer with his heavenly father, even while living in this old world of sin. Perhaps if we did the same, we would not feel so overwhelmed or defeated quite so often. It is OK to say “No,” and, it is OK to intentionally schedule some “God Time”, time spent alone with God in prayer that is not during the corporate worship service. Yes, public and communal prayer in the worship service is good, but personal and private prayer time with our Lord and Savior is equally important.
So, what to do? Here is your homework assignment. Get your calendar out, pick a time and a place, and a duration if you must, and make a date with God. Just find some private time and space to pour your heart out to God. I think you will find you feel much better if you plan some “God Time” into your week.
Grace & Peace, Charles.