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BREAD FOR THE JOURNEY BLOG@ Rhythms of Grace: a Journey into RestSustenance for the journey into rest and peace
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NEW SERIES: A HOPE-FILLED YEAR  One of the things I used to say to my children when they were young, bored and complaining, was ‘What can you find to do today which you won’t have chance to do tomorrow, next week or next year? What opportunities have you got right now?’ These words ran through my mind a lot last year when all our best-laid plans came to a standstill owing to the fall-out from unexpected building issues, health problems, and a car accident. Then when a lumbar fracture severely reduced what I was able to do physically, and meant I had to stop and rest at regular intervals, the Lord really caught my attention! In my frustration about not being able to do any of the things I had planned for this period, I felt the Lord issuing me the same challenge I had given my children years before… It’s important to say I do not believe any of the problems were sent by the Lord to teach us a lesson—we live in a fallen world, and stuff happens—but I do believe that He meets us in our difficulties and redeems them if we let Him. In this case, the opportunity right before me was to use the regular rests to meet with the Lord and allow Him to develop the prayer rhythm I had been trying to put into place for months with limited success. And in meeting with Him, deal with the anxiety and stress which had gathered during our testing time. The answer to our challenges this year is Jesus. Hope isn’t a mindset, it’s a person! Hope is not conjured out of thin air, it is developed by spending time with the Lord Jesus. PRACTISING HIS PRESENCE I’m not talking about longer devotional times, more fervent prayer or Bible reading, but about intimacy, and ‘practising His presence’ (to quote a 17th century monk). Actually, connecting with the Lord is an issue for so many Christians. Often, we get so focused on what we are doing, that we forget about Him for hours on end. And so many have described their practice of rushing into His presence with a shopping list of requests, and then hurrying out again without actually being with Him. It is so easy to spend time reading and thinking about Him, but not actually meet Him; or to worship easily with an anointed gathering, but struggle to feel near to Him in the front room at home. Scattered through the account of Abraham’s journeys, is the information that at each place he stopped and built an altar [Genesis 12, 13]. There is a lovely rhythm and cadence to that image. What if we did the same? What if we punctuated the day with intimate moments, took time out at intervals to centre down and just be in His presence? Last week we visited a local friary, where a bell summoned the monks to prayer at set times during the day. Perhaps we can do the same—set an alarm on our phones to remind us to take time out—to come close to God, not to talk, but just to be. Like everything else, it’s a journey, a learning process; we don’t always want to stop, quiet our busy thoughts, refocus; but His grace covers us when we fail, and we just have to get up and start again. STEPS BEHIND THE 'VEIL' The Holy of Holies was the place in the Temple where the Presence of God rested. One priest was allowed into the Presence once a year. Everyone else was separated from the ‘throne room of God’ by a veil. As Jesus took His last breath, the veil in the Temple was torn in two. Ordinary people (like you and me) now had access to the Holy of Holies, and the Presence of God, through His amazing sacrifice. Many people have asked me how to practically step ‘behind the veil’… Why not try the steps outlined below? KNOW: This is important. If you are going to press beyond the veil to an encounter with Jesus, you have to know you have a 24-hour-access invitation paid for by His shed blood. Whether you are having a good day, feeling spiritual or full of faith—or not—does not come into it. If there is something specific on your conscience, you can simply drop it at the door by confessing it, and receiving God’s promised forgiveness; otherwise you can enter freely [Hebrews 10:19-22]. In addition, did you know you are highly favoured? The literal translation of Ephesians 1:6 is ‘He has made us highly favoured in the Beloved’, and it’s the same word that was used about Mary in Luke 1:30! There are no special Christians who get the goodies, while the rest have their noses pushed up against the window pane. We need to know that Jesus’ presence and blessing are available to all who enter in. STOP: Then you need to get off the treadmill. You need to just stop, lay everything down, relax and become very quiet inside, including your thoughts. TURN: Turn the gaze of your heart upon the Lord. (As a young Christian, I used to picture a door in my chest opening towards the Lord! Foolish, I know, but it worked for me!) There isn’t one-size-fits-all when it comes to experiencing God’s presence. Everyone is made differently, and you will have your own unique encounter. It may be a little frisson of excitement, a feeling of peace, sudden tears, or some other physical sensation, or something completely different. And it takes practice ‘tuning in’, rather like finding a radio frequency. BREATHE: Take several slow deep breaths through the nose and exhale slowly. Let God’s peace settle upon you. Both the Hebrew and Greek words for Holy Spirit also mean ‘breath’. Paul wrote that ‘in Him we live and move and have our being’ [Acts 17:28]. With each breath, invite the Holy Spirit to fill your whole body. ASK: When you feel that sense of connection and filling, start to speak out your praise and thanksgiving for His many blessings. Then you can ask for more…more of Him…more revelation… more of His joy… WAIT: Just wait quietly and expectantly in the Lord’s Presence, allowing His grace and love to wash over you, and let your love flow back. RESPOND: Finally, respond with thanksgiving for His promise to be always with you [Matthew 28:20]. The call of intimacy is not about making resolutions, or ticking boxes, but about life being lived, inside-out. And we can be creative in our responses, as everyone’s situation is different. Devotional life is not a one-size-fits-all—whatever well-meaning people may say. And sometimes a particular plan is for a season only. Like Abraham, it’s ok to move on… Many are living restricted lives right now, for all sorts of reasons—perhaps you are one of them? We can counter this by choosing to make time to be with the Lord, and by asking for our eyes to be opened to the unique opportunities the present circumstances provide. Hope for the future is related to the amount of faith we invest in the present, and that faith is developed in the presence of Jesus. Whatever we do, let’s ‘make the most of every living and breathing moment because these are evil times. [Ephesians 5:16; The Voice] THIS WEEK'S GRACE RHYTHM
NEXT WEEK: OVERCOMING DISAPPOINTMENT AND SELF-PITY When people let us down, when we ourselves fall short, when things do not turn out as we expect, the resulting disappointment can cripple us for life… GET IN TOUCH!
[Photo credits: Sixteen Miles Out (hope verse); Kelly Sikkema (girl at window); Marc Olivier (outstretched hand);
Brooke Cagel (girl on tablet) @ Unsplash, with thanks]
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