Withdrawing from activity, to spend time with God is something that our souls truly yearn for and need. Taking moments to be in His presence will always be fruitful, whether it’s apparent to us or not.
Our society is focused so much on achievement that to stop “doing” and just “be” seems ludicrous. If we do make the time to commune with God, we often bring this worldly mentality with us: read a book, pray a rosary, and recite prayers. Don’t just sit there – do something!
Being stripped everything and sitting there “naked,” is difficult. We fear that we must bring something to God, not realizing how delighted He is with our presence. Longing to distract God from looking deep within our hearts and souls, we chatter with Him like a little child. We’re afraid He might notice our faults and flaws, forgetting that He’s well aware of them and loves us in spite of them.
We are filled with hurts and wounds that need to be healed by the love and gaze of God. Make the time. Come into His presence and allow His love to penetrate deep within your soul. We can do this in two ways: making a visit to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, or setting aside your activity and sitting still in a quiet place, recalling that God dwells within your heart.
Advent is a perfect time to spend time with God. We’re often so busy preparing for Christmas that God is put on a shelf till after the holidays. We rush and we stress and we wear ourselves out, getting ready for the “big day.” By the time it arrives we’re exhausted and have truly lost our focus. Jesus is the reason for the season! We must not let the tinsel and gifts blind us to forget our God. We must take time each day to withdraw from all the madness and activity to commune silently with Him. He is the Prince of Peace, longing for your love and attention.
Give God the gift of your time and your presence. Leave your books, thoughts, memories and activities behind and bask in His love, expecting to be filled! Our God will never disappoint us. After all, He gave us the greatest gift of all -- His Son Jesus!
“All you who are thirsty, come to the water! You who have no money, come, receive grain and eat; Come, without paying and without cost, drink wine and milk! Why spend money for what is not bread; your wages for what fails to satisfy? Heed me, and you shall eat well, you shall delight in rich fare. Come to me heedfully, listen, that you may have life” (Isaiah 55 vs 1-3).
To You O Lord, I lift up my soul.
ReplyDeleteIt is yours. Purify it. Protect it
Let me Glorify You as we await Your coming to us.
Oh Avia Joy...once again it's like you took the words from my brain and put them on paper. God had been calling me back to "Quiet Time" so much lately! It's like my brain is on OVERDRIVE!!!! I hear your Lord..."Be still and know that I am God!" Psalm 46:11
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