It’s that time of the year, again. The most wonderful time of the year.
It’s 26 days until Christmas and our excitement for festivities should be at an all time high.
But, while our spirits are excited, our souls are exhausted.
And for some of us; our heads are hanging low and our hearts are heavily laden.
Maybe you’re praying for an extra dose of energy to get you through the last few weeks of the year but your prayers have grown into grunts of ‘ugghs’ and ‘ahhhs’.
If this is you, I would like to invite you to try a new way in which we can engage in Gods Word.
There are many scriptures that invite us to ‘pause’ and ponder on Gods goodness and allow Gods Word to percolate in our hearts.
I hope this practice will serve as a sanctuary of sacred solitude, amongst the chaos and concerns of life – as you draw closer to the heart of the Father.
P – Position yourself in prayer
A – Ask God
U – Unity with the Spirit
S – Search the Scriptures
E – Edify the Lord
P – Position Yourself in Prayer
Psalm 46: 10 – “Be still and know that I am God.”
We position ourselves best when we become still before the Lord. It is a call to cease, stop and surrender. Maybe at this time of the year, your good ol’ prayer spot is encouraging more slouching than surrendering. If that’s the case, change it up. Go for a walk on the beach or move to a different spot in your house. Be intentional about inviting the Lord into your spaces, areas of influence, and your everyday spheres, and seek His face for further direction and clarity.
Journal prompt: Write down three places you could run to, to find some quiet time (maybe you just need to declutter some spaces in your home and create a new space to enjoy time with God)
A – Ask God
James 4:2 – “You do not have, because you do not ask.”
I pray that as time goes on and seasons change, God would give you the wisdom to know which way to walk. Oh that our hearts would cry out, ‘Teach us, Lord.” And if you do, His Word tells us that He will show you.
Journal prompt: Write down three areas where you need Gods wisdom today.
U – Unity with the Spirit
Galatians 5:25 – “If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.”
If we walk with the Spirit, we will no longer gratify the desires of the flesh. The desires of the flesh lead to disobedience. The desires of the Spirit will lead us into a life of godliness, goodness, and divine grace. Where in your life are you gratifying the desires of the flesh?
Journal prompt: Write down three areas of your life where sinful desires are running wild and ask the Holy Spirit to show you a better way.
S – Search the Scriptures
Joshua 1:8 – “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”
Our obedience to God’s Word will result in blessing. The Psalms say that those who walk according to God’s Word will be like a tree whose leaves never wither. Through seasons of little or much, drought or plenty; we will prosper. Is there an area of your life that is not bearing fruit? Search the scriptures, and allow God’s truth to change your heart. Declare life over your dead-ends, and watch as Jesus does what only He can do. Mark Batterson says that too often we believe in an ASAP (As Soon As Possible) prayer theology, where instead we should adopt an ALAT (As Long As it Takes) attitude towards prayer.
Journal prompt: Write down three areas in your life, where there is a shortage of growth. Be intentional and pray through these areas until you see fruit.
E – Edify the Lord
John 2:24 – “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
We do not merely display worship on a Sunday morning. We are called to live a life of constant worship. We were created for worship, by the One who deserves it all. John Bunyan says that we were created with five spiritual gatekeepers: eye-gate, ear-gate, mouth-gate, nose-gate, and feel-gate. We need to engage our whole being in edifying the name of Jesus.
Journal prompt: Write down five attributes of God, that you can choose to dwell on. And in doing so, praise Him for them all.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
John 1:1-5