Everyday Genesis by Nika Maples

Author:Nika Maples [Maples, Nika]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Worthy Publishing
Published: 2017-11-14T16:00:00+00:00

Maybe if we start listening to Him, we’ll discover He has a lot to say. Maybe if we start following Him, we’ll discover He has established the way.

You can expect to be blessed if you put Him first and then follow.

God honors His pursuers.

TEN

Guidance

MY INTENTIONAL SOLITUDE occurs in the early morning hours. This is when I hear God, when I pursue His guidance. The confusion melts away.

I finally admitted that I can cultivate solitude best in the morning. Some people can craft quiet time as they are going to bed at night, but I cannot. I just fall asleep. (Hey, being with God can be peaceful.) Besides, someone once reminded me that if orchestras intend to play well, they warm up before the symphony, not after. That musical metaphor resonates in my heart. Seeking God in the morning makes more sense if we intend to “play the day” with any grace. Yet even in the morning, I face obstacles. And perhaps in the morning they are more abundant.

The day has started, so I want to see what has happened on my e-mail and social feeds overnight. I have lists to make: the groceries I will buy, the errands I will run, the people I will call when the sun comes up. I have a calendar to consult. The newborn day is less than an hour old, and already it has grown quite big and loud. But to encounter God in a meaningful way, I know I must make myself small and silent. I must be focused. So the timer on my watch is my tiny coach. This timer has made all the difference. I set it and then let go of mindfulness and concern. I can close my eyes, making the commitment not to look anywhere else but into His face. No checking the clock. No scanning my calendar or messages.

First, Him.

It has taken me a while to get to this point. I remember on my eighteenth birthday I felt that it was time for me to take ownership of my spiritual growth. But there was a problem: I had no idea what I was supposed to do. I asked everyone I admired, “How do you spend your ‘quiet time’? What is ‘quiet time’ supposed to look like?” No one gave me the specific answer I wanted. Maybe that is because it looks different for everyone, and they didn’t want to suggest there is only one way to approach God. His relationships with people are unique, much like my relationships with people are. With some friends, I share meaningful conversations over coffee on the back porch. With others, I laugh on a road trip or while thrift shopping. With others, we enjoy being together while sewing a project. The art of connecting is different with each friend I have.

I spent many years attempting and failing my way through various ways of spending time with God. Nothing was consistent. I would begin, but always give up for long periods. Then I would resume later, pulling myself out of a bog of guilt in order to get started.

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