by Richelle Hecker

Stop running long enough to listen.

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

A new year has begun, and it’s time to move forward into a new season of living. Perhaps you’ve made resolutions for life changes, or maybe you’re content to continue as you were. Either way, we must plow ahead and jump in at the pace of the world around us. It’s easy to get so involved in all of the activity that we forget to stop and reflect.

This year, after the holiday season rush, I took my family to the mountains. We spent the week at a Christian family camp and retreat center. There we were able to spend time with other believers, and reflect on the work God is doing in our lives. Internet and cell phone connections were extremely limited, so we were forced to stop being connected to the world and take time to reconnect with God and each other.

It is amazing to discover how much mental and physical energy is taken up by the world and its distractions. It took some time to stop checking my phone, and thinking about what all was going on with people and places out there. God called me to unplug from all of that, and turn my mind completely on Him. Yes, the world kept its pace while I was away, but for a while I was able to let it go on without me.

Finally, I was able to stop focusing on all things I was doing and recall the reason I did them.

“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.”
Mark 6:31 New International Version

God calls all of us to periodically go to a quiet place and get some rest. During this time He ministers to us, fills us, refreshes us, and reminds us why He created us. We are here for His purpose, and we can only discover what that is if we take the time to stop running and listen to Him.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado