Amy Carroll
"Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things." Psalm 107:8-9 (NIV)
When a new neighbor moved in next door, Caroline rallied the troops in her neighborhood to prepare a warm greeting. She and her friend planned a feast to take over to welcome the newcomer to their community. Caroline called her new neighbor and was surprised when her hospitality was met with suspicion.
"Why did you say that you wanted to bring me dinner?" the new neighbor questioned. Caroline explained that it was a tradition in their area and that they'd like to deliver dinner to welcome her personally. The neighbor responded, "I tell you what. I'll give you a call when I'm hungry." Click.
Caroline reflected on how many times we treat God the same way that her new neighbor treated her. Each day God lays out a feast and invites every believer to come eat our fill. I had to ask myself an important question: How many days do I rush by God's table and throw an "I'll come when I'm hungry!" back over my shoulder?
I think I'm full, but God knows that I'm simply ignoring my hunger. I need to sit down daily to eat and be filled from God's table. Luke 1:53 says, "He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty" (NIV).
I long to have a heart to approach Him daily just as I am—poor and hungry. He invites me to come to Him so that I can leave rich and full. What a glorious exchange! What a divine pleasure!
Daily time enjoying God is essential, but sometimes God gives us an invitation to a private, extended feast. I am envious of one of my pastors. He takes a week each year for a spiritual retreat to a monastery. He goes where it's quiet and simple and spends a week with Jesus. Maybe someday when my children are older and I'm caught up on laundry I'll be able to do that, but recently God led me to do something equally wonderful on a smaller scale. I took a spiritual retreat during the school day in a room at my church.
As I walked up the stairs to the empty room, I felt nervous. I had spent hours in prayer with others, but I had never spent this long alone with God. Would I have enough to say to Him? Would He speak to me in the silence? Would the minutes drag by? Would I walk out unchanged or disappointed?
At the end of the day, my questions were answered. God met me there. We filled our time together with prayer, Bible reading and worship. God spoke words of direction to me in the silence. I came in knowing that I was hungry, and He was faithful to fill me.
Having mini-retreats with Jesus is something that I plan to do now at least twice a year. In the midst of a full life, it's necessary to intentionally set extended time aside to seek His face and worship Him. I'll still look forward to a week in an abbey, but in the meantime I'll bask in a school day retreat as I renew my relationship with God and feast on His goodness!
Dear Lord, help me know You are good. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Related Resources:
Do You Know Jesus?
Visit Amy’s blog
From My Heart to Your Throne: An Intimate Worship Collection (CD) by Melissa Melbourn
When a Woman Meets Jesus: Finding the Love Every Woman Longs For by Dorothy Valcarcel
Application Steps:
Pray and ask God to give you a desire for extended time with Him.
Mark a day on your calendar for a retreat with Jesus.
Reflections:
Have I ignored my spiritual hunger and run by God's feast?
Power Verses:
Mark 6:31, "Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, 'Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.'" (NIV)
Matthew 5:6, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be filled." (NIV)
© 2010 by Amy Carroll. All rights reserved.
"Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things." Psalm 107:8-9 (NIV)
When a new neighbor moved in next door, Caroline rallied the troops in her neighborhood to prepare a warm greeting. She and her friend planned a feast to take over to welcome the newcomer to their community. Caroline called her new neighbor and was surprised when her hospitality was met with suspicion.
"Why did you say that you wanted to bring me dinner?" the new neighbor questioned. Caroline explained that it was a tradition in their area and that they'd like to deliver dinner to welcome her personally. The neighbor responded, "I tell you what. I'll give you a call when I'm hungry." Click.
Caroline reflected on how many times we treat God the same way that her new neighbor treated her. Each day God lays out a feast and invites every believer to come eat our fill. I had to ask myself an important question: How many days do I rush by God's table and throw an "I'll come when I'm hungry!" back over my shoulder?
I think I'm full, but God knows that I'm simply ignoring my hunger. I need to sit down daily to eat and be filled from God's table. Luke 1:53 says, "He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty" (NIV).
I long to have a heart to approach Him daily just as I am—poor and hungry. He invites me to come to Him so that I can leave rich and full. What a glorious exchange! What a divine pleasure!
Daily time enjoying God is essential, but sometimes God gives us an invitation to a private, extended feast. I am envious of one of my pastors. He takes a week each year for a spiritual retreat to a monastery. He goes where it's quiet and simple and spends a week with Jesus. Maybe someday when my children are older and I'm caught up on laundry I'll be able to do that, but recently God led me to do something equally wonderful on a smaller scale. I took a spiritual retreat during the school day in a room at my church.
As I walked up the stairs to the empty room, I felt nervous. I had spent hours in prayer with others, but I had never spent this long alone with God. Would I have enough to say to Him? Would He speak to me in the silence? Would the minutes drag by? Would I walk out unchanged or disappointed?
At the end of the day, my questions were answered. God met me there. We filled our time together with prayer, Bible reading and worship. God spoke words of direction to me in the silence. I came in knowing that I was hungry, and He was faithful to fill me.
Having mini-retreats with Jesus is something that I plan to do now at least twice a year. In the midst of a full life, it's necessary to intentionally set extended time aside to seek His face and worship Him. I'll still look forward to a week in an abbey, but in the meantime I'll bask in a school day retreat as I renew my relationship with God and feast on His goodness!
Dear Lord, help me know You are good. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Related Resources:
Do You Know Jesus?
Visit Amy’s blog
From My Heart to Your Throne: An Intimate Worship Collection (CD) by Melissa Melbourn
When a Woman Meets Jesus: Finding the Love Every Woman Longs For by Dorothy Valcarcel
Application Steps:
Pray and ask God to give you a desire for extended time with Him.
Mark a day on your calendar for a retreat with Jesus.
Reflections:
Have I ignored my spiritual hunger and run by God's feast?
Power Verses:
Mark 6:31, "Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, 'Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.'" (NIV)
Matthew 5:6, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be filled." (NIV)
© 2010 by Amy Carroll. All rights reserved.
Labels: Balance, Patience, Perseverance, Prayer, Spiritual Growth, Time with God, Waiting On God, Walking in Faith
8 Comments:
thank you, in our busy life we often forfeit the strength and rest that only God can give. i desire to have a retreat with him. thanks and God bless
I think I forfeit the strength and the rest from God also. Enough, Lord this is A Mess. I desire a Retreat with the Lord. Amen. Thanks P31.
Thank you for that thought..Its so true that we do not realize how hungry we are until we are at the table with Him. I need a retreat with Jesus. Thanks Again.
This is great! I love the verses that tell us we may turn our backs on God when we think we are rich or full. The truth is that only his riches can fill us, not those of this world.
thank you!
Only God could have providenced today's devotional to be what it was. :) Last night at Bible Study, we were talking about the names of God: Living Water and Bread of Life!!! I was having a rough night and knew I needed to go to the only ONE who could satisfy my weary soul: JESUS CHRIST! PRAISE GOD for his faithfulness and reminders every day about WHO HE IS!!! HALLELUJAH!
I love that the Holy Spirit helped you see immediately not the hurt you would feel in rejection, but how you behave the same way towards God.
God never lets me off the hook on issues like this. I often want to get my feathers ruffled when others behave poorly or horribly towards me, but God always lovingly shows me that my own behavior is often the same towards Him (or others) and I am humbled. He uses these experiences to always draw me closer to Him. Looking a the calendar for when I can pull maybe a few hours for that retreat!
Thanks P31 for this refreshing idea not that i never thought about it just never got to it. I long for closeness and intimacy with JESUS.In my business i have put it aside i realize JESUS is not to be scheduled He is to be a desperate desire that wipes away every other thing that wants to take what is important.
Thank you! I needed that! May God continue to bless you and fill you with His peace, presence, purpose and power! In His Loving Care, A grateful and encouraged reader :)
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