It’s chilly and wet and dark this morning. We don’t get a whole lot of days like this where I live. After all, it’s almost November and we’ve had three total days of below-70-degree highs so far this fall, while most days topped out in the 80s or 90s. Most of us welcome a cold front. We consider it a holiday of sorts if we can wear cute boots and sweaters and drink lattes and not sweat through our clothes.
Dressing for weather in central Texas is an extreme sport in itself, where the challenge of preparing one’s self and one’s children for a 30-degree temperature swing with a feels-like-a-40-degree-swing is all too familiar. We don’t layer here for warmth and insulation. We layer because it may be 30 degrees when your kid leaves for school, but by recess after lunch in full sun it’s 68 and feels like 75, and by after school pickup it will be 75 and feel like 80. Those layers are coming OFF, people.
But this morning feels different, so I’m still enjoying my fuzzy robe and indulging in too many cups of hot, delicious coffee. My beautiful devotional book sits in my lap, and Jesus and my furry pup serve as my companions.
We need to offer ourselves this kind of rest and quiet time of prayer and contemplation with God.
In my younger years, I never would have allowed myself this time. It felt like selfishness and luxury. I still tend to “should” all over myself. I know “self-care” talk is all the rage, but I’m not talking about that. I’m talking about soul care.
Scripture in Genesis says that even God rested! After six days of productivity creating the universe, God rested. Likewise, Jesus’ disciples say He often went off by himself to pray.
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.
Mark 1:35
If the God of all creation needs a prayer respite, how much more do you and I?
But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.
Luke 5:16
When we create a space in our day and invite God into it, He always, always shows up. You may sense a need to call a friend, to pray for someone, to cook a meal. That’s not distraction – that’s the Holy Spirit guiding you into some Kingdom work! It is all too easy to become so distracted by the busy noise of our lives and our plans that we don’t hear God’s plans for our day or months or even years to come.
Every so often, we need to heed the advice of our Heavenly Father.
He says, “Be still and know that I am God…”
Psalm 46:10 (PARTIAL EXCERPT)
Still HIS,
Expressively HIS ... 
Super! Wonderful! Can’t wait to read much much more.
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Beautiful! I often feel the urge to text a friend to check on them and had not often thought that was the Holy Spirit. Good to be reminded of the myriad of ways God works.
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A great deal of my spiritual communication involves God’s natural creation. That’s when I feel that closeness. In fact, on a hot morning, and we’ve had plenty lately, I’ll feel a refreshing breeze. I feel that God has breathed on me and I thank him.
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Wonderful. Always need a reminder about taking a quiet time.
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Nicki,
I’m sitting here at 5:30 AM in Albuquerque, NM enjoying the 30 degree weather. As I read your post 10/30 post, I couldn’t agree more about taking time for ourselves to rest, repair, and restore our relationship with God.
As I am rapidly approaching my mid-thirty’s, I find that I don’t take enough time for myself. Lately, I’ve been waking up really early (4:00 – 5:30) daily. I use these few hours to soak in a hot bath, reset my mind/get in the right head space for the day, and pray.
Like you, I use to think self-care was a luxury and selfish, however, the older I get, the more I find this isn’t a luxury; it’s a requirement.
I can’t wait to read more!!!
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I was so happy to read this, Ryan. Thank you for your insightful response! Enjoy NM!!
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