Prayer - The Longer We Soak
Pamela Bunn, Guest Writer
TODAY’S TREASURE
And when it was day, he departed and went into a desolate place. And the people sought him and came to him, and would have kept him from leaving them, but he said to them, I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.'” "On their return the apostles told him all that they had done. And he took them and withdrew apart.
Luke 4:42-43; 9:10
Streaked and flocked clouds, suspended, hold their shape in predawn stillness, hovering. The measure of time passing is the new contours seen, shadows, and shapes increasingly distinct in the gradually brightening light. The rising sun radiates underneath and behind, reflecting, warming to the slightest movement, and adjusting to new patterns. Color blushes at first, then emerges in full rose fire.
The longer we soak, the more of Jesus we take into our layers. He changes the ways we think, and feel, about things. The longer we soak, the more visible our immanent Lord is before our eyes and the more palatable for our hungry souls. We understand better His infinite attributes and take in, and marvel at, more of His character. The longer we soak, the more able we are to recognize our unholiness, and the more deeply we are convicted and hunger for His perfection. We take time to openly confess and specifically name known sins and are more willing to surrender. The longer we soak, the deeper and broader our prayers. We learn to ask specifically, anticipate expectantly, and give God the greater glory when He answers.
The longer we soak, the closer we get to His heartbeat and absorb His rhythms of grace and love. The longer we soak, we take on His mannerisms and learn to mimic His speech and tone of voice. The longer we soak, His ways through His word begin to reorder our priorities and permeate our will, sanctifying the inner heart and directing our outward choices.
APPLICATION
Do we treat our quiet time with the Lord as a drive-through meal to be gulped or a feast to be savored? Is it an item on a list of many to check off and set aside? Do we skim the first paragraph, scratch the surface, and keep our communion satisfyingly superficial? If we do not soak, we will never be saturated with Jesus, never permeated with His mannerisms and thoughts. We will say our hellos and too quick a goodbye, and never get acquainted with His wisdom-gaining, answer-procuring, attitude-adjusting, compassion-forming, or life-changing ways.
In these troubling times, what do I deem important? We allot time and attention to our determined priorities. Are work, social media, news-gathering, or 'self-care' taking precedence over daily lingering with Jesus? If our desire is the biblical admonition to fear the Lord and become like Him, we cannot skimp in the secret place of communion. We must make an effort to get there and stay until His voice is applied as instruction, the facets of His light color our countenance, prayer is more listening than talking, the Word catches our breath, and we bow in awed worship or genuine repentance. How will we gain the mind of Christ, and have ready His grace for those who need hope, if we do not soak in our Savior?
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PRAYER
Lord Jesus, renew my mind and transform my heart as I take time to soak in You. Equip me daily for Your will, to Your glory.
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Sharon W. Betters is a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, pastor’s wife, and cofounder of MARKINC Ministries, where she is the Director of Resource Development. Sharon is the author of several books, including Treasures of Encouragement, Treasures in Darkness, and co-author with Susan Hunt of Aging with Grace. She is the co-host of the Help & Hope podcast and writes Daily Treasure, an online devotional.
Contact Sharon with comments or questions at dailytreasure@markinc.org.