And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. (Luke 11:9-10 ESV)
As I write this I am overlooking a room full of unwrapped gifts, assorted snippets of Christmas paper and bags, gifts not put away yet, and my family members napping or playing computer-based games. The push of the pre-Christmas season is concluded, and now my dog and I are enjoying some quiet time on the sofa. When I was a child I loved the week between Christmas and New Year’s. That was the best week of the year because there was no school and there were no other things to do that week. We just stayed at home, reading, playing games, cooking, watching TV, and doing a whole lotta’ nothing. As an adult with adult responsibilities who now must pack up the family and travel each holiday to see out-of-state family, I remember those childhood weeks as bliss!
If your world is like mine, the adult responsibilities don’t disappear during this week, but they do slow down a bit. There’s still plenty to do, but likely less than usual. I see this quieter “in-between” time as an opportunity to draw closer to God. In past years, I’ve sought the Lord for a “Word of the Year” or asked for specific guidance in decisions I was facing.
This week, let’s use the slower pace to spend time with God—seeking his kingdom and his righteousness first, and listening for the voice of our Savior. What do you need from God right now? A time of rest, crawling up into Abba’s lap to experience his love? A moment to ask questions and seek his wisdom? Or perhaps a time to listen for whatever he wants to say to you?
When we take the time to meet with him, he will meet us. He will answer our questions, offer direction and discernment, and wrap us in his arms of love, giving us all we need.
In the quiet of this time, let us pray…
Abba,
Lord, we thank You for the gift of these “in-between” times. We are grateful for what has been completed and accomplished—the celebrations of Christmas—and for all that lies ahead in the new year. But today, we pause in Your presence. We crawl into Your lap of love, listening for Your sweet voice. We seek Your kingdom, Your righteousness, Your guidance, Your discernment, and Your wisdom. Holy Spirit, speak to us. Meet us where we are, whisper into our hearts, and provide what we need. Grow our love for You and for others. Increase our knowledge and discernment. Cultivate in us purity and the fruit of righteousness through Jesus Christ, for Your glory and praise. We ask all this in Jesus’s name, AMEN.
it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1:9-11 ESV)
The starting point for acquiring wisdom is to be consumed with awe as you worship Yahweh. To receive the revelation of the Holy One, you must come to the one who has living-understanding. (Proverbs 9:10 TPT)