But Jesus would often go to some place where He could be alone and pray. Luke 5:16
Sometimes withdrawing to a quiet place means going to a quaint silent retreat centre for the weekend. But most times what it looks like is going to my bathroom, shutting the door and spending a few quiet minutes reading my Bible and meeting with my Lord. Being refreshed does not always take hours. Sometimes in this busy season of motherhood, God knows all I have is 15 minutes and He takes those 15 minutes and stretches them out, multiplying them like He did the 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish. Indeed 1 day is like a thousand years to the Lord and a thousand years like a day. Our God exists and works outside the confines and constraints of time as we see it.
But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 2 Peter 3:8
God knows there are times I have 2 hours to spend in prayer and deep study of His Word and He expects me to be a good steward of those opportunities, using them the right way and not squandering that precious time scrolling mindlessly through social media. When He avails me extra time to meet with Him, He expects me to use it. The same merciful God also knows when I do not have 2 hours or more for deep Bible study and prayer and so He packs all that I need to be renewed, edified, refreshed, empowered and filled up into the 15 minutes I do have. Indeed, better is a few minutes in Your presence Lord, than a thousand else where. Even if those few minutes are while I take a shower.
A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else! Psalm 84:10
Human beings look on the outside, but God looks at the heart. While you change diapers, while you cook and clean, while you breastfeed, God sees your earnest desire and values the times you speak to Him in your heart. Our God is omnipresent. The same God that spoke to Moses in the tent of meeting, is the same God who spoke to the servant girl in the wilderness. The God who appeared to Anna as she prayed and fasted daily in the temple courts is the same God who appeared to Mary as she went about her daily chores, calling her highly favored.
Opening his mouth, Peter said: “Most certainly I understand now that God is not one to show partiality [to people as though Gentiles were excluded from God’s blessing], 35 but in every nation the person who fears God and does what is right [by seeking Him] is acceptable and welcomed by Him. Acts 10:34-35
Because God is not a respect or of persons. He looks at the posture of the heart and meets us where we are, wherever we are, we can meet with God in our hearts and spirits.
Jesus tells us this very truth in His conversation with the woman at the well. He teaches that we do not have to be in the physical temple to worship God, because of Jesus, the Emmanuel (God with us) we have the gift and privilege of being able to worship God anywhere, as long as it is done in spirit and In truth. Jeus sent us the promised Holy Spirit and Jesus is the Truth. To quote Jesus: ‘’But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.” John 4:23-24 Hallelujah that time is now! We are privileged to be living in a time and dispensation where we do not have to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem to meet with God. Emmanuel came already. God now dwells with us and when you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior then God dwells on the inside of you in the person of the Holy Spirit. Glory to God!
Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Matthew 1:23
So do not be too hard on yourself when you are not able to make it to the small group or Bible study meeting as often as you would like because of the responsibilities you have as a mother. God meets with us right where we are. Play that audio Bible as you cook, clean or feed the children. Say a prayer out loud as you do bath time or change diapers. Recite your Bible memory verse as you push that toddler on the swing and realize that just as you can praise and worship your God anytime, and anywhere, God is able to speak and minister to you any time and anywhere.
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Read more of Rachel’s contributions to AllMomDoes here.
