Knowing God has been something I’ve been thinking about a lot this year. I think my heart grew weary of molding God into the image I imagined Him to be…weary of pulling Bible verses out of context, placing all my trust in them and then being disheartened when my prayers weren’t answered the way I wanted.
In Pete Wilson’s book, Plan B he says: “When people ask me how they can know God’s will for their lives, I tell them the best first step is to know God. Beyond that I really don’t have any steps.”
That resonates in me.
I want to know Him and to truly know someone you have to spend time with them.
Just reminding myself this morning to be still and know…
My friend (Pastor) Bill, had some great thoughts on time with God on his blog: Cycleuy’s Spin. If you have a minute join the conversation HERE.
Do you have a daily discipline of quieting yourself? I’d love to hear about your process…
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
Sweet and thoughtful, words to live by. Two thoughts came to mind:
“….let him who boasts, boast about this: that he understands
and knows me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness,
justice and righteousness on the earth, for in these I delight,”
declares the Lord. Jeremiah 9:24 ~ NIV
And secondly, a song by Anadara, from her album, Beautiful
Wounds, STILL ~
My daily discipline involves a giant mug of coffee and a book – sometimes the Bible, sometimes Anne Lamott, sometimes Frederick Buechner, sometimes, Donald Miller. On days like today, the book is optional because just look at this great good day. The birds are singing, the bees are working, the garden is growing, the dew is drying. God speaks!
.-= Celesta´s last blog ..Moon River =-.
I find that if I don’t quiet myself, my body will eventually do it for me. Much better to keep ahead and take some initiative, preferably with a shady spot and a blanket and nothing else to do for ten minutes, or on my morning stroll around the block.
Just received Plan B in the mail from Amazon! Can’t wait to read it! Thank you for your honesty and love you share with us through your blog!
Great reminder. I too have found that this is the best time in my life. To be still with Him. Thanks!
My daily discipline involves just being still and watching the sunrise, or at the end of the day watching the sunset. There may be a time during the day when I go outside and just sit in my chair and watch the fluffy white clouds move gently across the blue sky. These are the times that I can feel God most when I just am quiet and drink in the beauty of His creation.
.-= Eileen´s last blog ..Bottle Brush Tree =-.
So I used to also have this question about what God’s will was and how do you know if you are doing God’s will. An Irish-Catholic nun told me that if it feels like you are pushing a pea up a hill with your nose, it’s not God’s will. That worked for me then and still does.
Hope you are well.
.-= Claire´s last blog ..The Itch to Stitch =-.
I told a friend once, who said he was trying to find God, that people need to stop looking for Him and start acknowledging Him.
It flew out of my mouth, and then I thought, “yeah. exactly.” that’s how I came to really know Him. I stopped trying to figure out a God who is too amazing for me to define in my human brain, and just started acknowledging Him in everything around me. I acknowledge Him in the hurt and the joy, in my belief and my doubt, in the pain and the relief. He is all, simply put. And I rest easy in that.
.-= gitz´s last blog ..Plan B =-.
Oh Sara…(Gitz) that makes sense, that gives me peace and even a smile…that I can acknowledge Him…sigh. You are so wise. xoxo
Hey Robin,
My time with God is my lifesource, without it my days are self-focused and I feel disconnected. How does this time with God look? different on somedays, very much the same on others. Today, as I walked to work I chatted away, listened for his still small voice and saw Him in the flowers and heard him singing through the song birds. Many days I will read through a bible study or one single scripture stopping to pray. Some days my time with God is a box of kleenex. I’m half way in the book “Plan B.” My husband and I have been through some tough church situations, job lose and a prodigal son, feeling that we could possibly be at Plan Z,Y, or Z…….but God has always been faithful and somedays that’s all I need to remember.
ps how is Emma? and baby?
I was Emma almost 3o yrs. ago, single and alone but God had a PLAN!
blessings,
Deb
Daily discipline to quiet myself?
My time depends on my schedule. During the week I drive an hour to work and an hour back home. I put in a David Crowder Band cd and worship God as I drive (sometimes a little shoulder dancing thrown in there). I love his cd…Church Music. I’ve noticed something about that cd…the end is actually the beginning. That’s all I’m sayin’.
Sometimes I listen to a Beth Moore Bible study on cd. Over and over. I’m telling you, I learn something different every time I listen to it.
Another “be still” moment is in the tub, surrounded by bubbles, a candle and instrumental music playing. I have calmed many a tense time in my life by listening to God and letting Him wash over me in that quiet time. I’ve listened to music that I’ve downloaded to a cd (some of my favorite songs) while soaking in the tub, too. Here’s some of my favorites:
Resurrection, by Nicol Sponberg
How He Loves by David Crowder
Communion by Matt Redman
Jesus Messiah by Chris Tomlin
In Christ Alone by Travis Cottrell
For Bible reading, I like to have a good daily devotional to focus on one verse…Streams In The Desert by Mrs. Charles E. Cowman. I have a copy dated 1966 and it is the 56th printing of this devotional. I bought it at an antique mall and it has sweet writings in it from a previous owner.
Daily Light by Ann Graham Lotz is a good one, too.
The Bible is very personal to me. Some days I’m deep into the Psalms. Other days I’m reading about Mary and Martha grieving over the death of their brother Lazarus (that’s when I need some resurrection power in my life).
Robin…learn of Jesus. Ask Him to fill you with His Presence. Tell Him you want to know Him so well that you can feel His Arms around you or His Tears mixing with yours. He wept with Mary and Martha over their grief…even though He knew He was about to raise Lazarus from the dead.
Matthew 11:28-30. Start there if you want to feel His Love.
.-= twinkle´s last blog ..Equally Yoked =-.
I love this Twinkle….truly.
amazing thoughts…again.. robin….
i have a date with plan b this weekend…. thank you from the bottom of my heart…
sending love…xxo, kim
.-= kim klassen´s last blog ..freebie friday… texture love =-.
Got here late Robin. (Messed up google reader). Thanks for the shout out. My thoughts are expressed in my post that you mentioned. Everyone has a different way of going about meeting with God. You will find Him when you least expect Him. least that is my thought at this point.
.-= Bill (cycleguy)´s last blog ..A Fistful of Thoughts =-.