Availability
An invitation to evaluate your time with God.
” But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign LORD my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do.”
Psalm 73:28 [NLT]
Good morning, Friends!
How are you?
The past seven days have been filled with a lot of sunshine and sparkles! The weather has been gorgeous here in Northeast Ohio. It is incredible when it is hot and sunny enough to get a sunburn in April!
One of my favorite activities when the weather is nice is going for a long walk. I inherited my love of walking from my Papa Tom, who passed it on to my mom, who passed it on to me. It has become a special way for me to experience the presence of God and invite people to experience it with me.
I was leaving for Bible study last Thursday and put on my clear, sparkly gel sandals from Old Navy. My Nikes were right next to them, but I was already running a little behind and wasn’t wearing socks. I felt God prompt me to take my Nikes with me. I didn’t have time to question it, so I grabbed them and headed out the door. I was still lingering at church a few hours later when I received a text from a friend asking if I was free to meet her for a walk at one of my favorite places (for locals this is Sand Run Metropark in Akron). It was an easy “yes” because I listened to God when He told me to bring my shoes. I even had a spare pair of clean socks tucked away in a pair of snow boots in the backseat of my car!
The only reason I know God’s voice is because I have made myself available to hear it. This has been the product of a lot of time alone with Him. It has meant, at times, saying “no” to good things, so I could say “yes” to Jesus. If you aren’t listening to God in the little moments, you will not be prepared for the big ones. I don’t always get it right, but I have become more sensitive to His Spirit the longer I have walked with Him.
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”
Mark 12:30 [NIV]
While a relationship with God is NOT at all based on a particular feeling or emotion [only by grace through faith in Jesus], it is hard to feel connected with anyone, including God, if you barely [or never] spend time with them. If you are struggling to feel His presence and hear His voice, I want to encourage you to evaluate your time and be honest about how much of it you are making available to God.
“For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
How precious to me are your thoughts, God!
How vast is the sum of them!
Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand—
when I awake, I am still with you.”
Psalm 139 :13-18 [NIV]
He is a personal God that knows each of His children by name. If you have placed your faith in Jesus - you are one of those children! I shared in last week’s post, Images, that one of the ways God and I spend time together is through writing these newsletters. This is the beauty of having an intimate relationship with Jesus - your relationship with Him will be personalized to you!
[Prayer]
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for Your constant availability to me even when I struggle to make myself available to You. Thank you for the work of Your Spirit within me that is faithful in drawing me back to You. I am so grateful that because of Jesus, I have been adopted as one of Your precious children.
I confess that there are many times where my priorities are out of order. Please increase my desire to spend time in Your presence and my sensitivity to Your Spirit. I am better equipped to share Your love with others after I have spent time with You myself.
I love you!
In Jesus’ name. Amen.
[Reflect + Respond]
Do you have a story where God asked you to do something that didn’t make sense in the moment?
What is your favorite way to spend time with God?
Have you said “yes” to too many good things that you are missing the opportunity to rest in His presence?
If you feel comfortable, please leave a comment. I would love to encourage + pray for you as we continue on our journey of becoming more like Jesus!
[Glitter + Grace],
Kaitlynn
A recent moment for me was during my morning Bible time. It looks much different these days with little kiddos around and my son gets up much earlier than he used to, so I’m not able to get much done by myself. But my son is very curious and has lately been joining me. I heard a prompting of “let the little children come to me.” My Bible and journal may have extra scribbles and highlights and the time may be interrupted, but I would like to think that maybe this will be something that he remembers as he is older and starts having a more personal relationship with God. 💙
"But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign LORD my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do." - Psalm 73:28. I NEEDED this today SO much today!! God's timing is perfect😉 And, LOVE your point about "The only reason I know God's voice is because I have made myself available to hear it." AND, I am also a fan of walking, especially in the morning w/ Toby🐶 It is one of my cherished "alone times" that I bask in the beauty of all that God has created as well as ask and listen for what He is telling me. Keep doing what you do...God has given you many gifts😉👊🥰✨✨✨