Ever have a wrinkled week? I’ve had many resulting in this odd title. And because of my crumbled up days and months, my writing suffered.
In my flurry of haste, I submitted for publication the uncorrected version of the December article, The Father of Gifts, the epitome of unnecessary mistakes. And I humbly “apologize”.
But my Savior knew how badly I felt, and stepped in with His abundant ‘grace’ leading me to some unfamiliar Bible verses to reveal my word ~ Quiet: “It was winter and Jesus was walking in the temple in Solomon’s porch” (John 10:23, NKJV). Jesus had taught, and spoken there to the people. And here His disciples would gather after His death.
But for now, Jesus walked alone. No disciples, no crowd, no accusers demanding His attention. Perhaps a soft breeze played at the hem of His winter clothing as He strolled silently, serene, contemplative, and quiet. And to me God said, “This is what your misshapen days lacked.”
Interestingly, few weeks prior, I’d read about an archeology discovery of the year: Deep within the Egyptian Great pyramid of Khufu two unknown secret places were found within the Grand Gallery. Such a discovery not found since the 1800’s. Speak about isolation!
God, too, has prepared a “secret place” of quiet for us: “You shall hide them [me] in the secret place of Your presence” (Psalm 31:20). Within us, as deep as those in Khufu’s pyramid, God calls us with an intimacy of friendship, “Come stroll in solitude with me.”
But with the luring of the world’s “have-to’s” ~ “should’ve” ~ to ~ “If I don’t, who will?”, plus insurmountable problems, how can we stroll anywhere?
Again, God reached out: “For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; in the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me” (Psalm 27: 5, NKJV). He promises we can bring those fires of turmoil to His pavilion, a safe, secured, covered place.
Debbie Mccombe, an established author, once shared she choses a word to infuse into her life for the New Year. For me, I’ve chosen the word ~ Quiet.
This New Year I invite you to select a word and join me in eliminating one item, one function hindering access to the deep secret place of quiet. Whether we stroll in heart from an armchair, or can actually walk, we can go to a safe place where no one else can enter. It’s the quality, not the length, such as in the small book, One Minute Prayers. It’s seeking Him first: “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalm 91:1).
Then apologies diminish, for we’re ready to meet any situation when we allow Him to lead us down by still waters. Happy New Year.