Mountain View - Road Trip! By Leyla Williams
Writer Author Church On The Mountain
Christian Column
:
Christian Living
- Fiction No
Do you remember ski trips, or long drives to visit family that meant jumping in the car and settling in for a drive that you expected would be an adventure? Sometimes these trips included people you didn’t know yet. Every year I went on ski trips with a mix of people that I knew, and plenty I did not. Confined for a distance in a car with people that you don’t know very well, when you first click in, can feel intimidating. What are you going to say for the next 6 hours (or most recently, 17 hours)! But from each trip, I would come back with a new list of phone numbers and there would be inside jokes and memories that marked the best parts of the journey.
Discovering God in His Word and in prayer is very similar. Once you snap into your seat of devotional time, if you aren’t used to keeping company with God for extended periods of time, you might feel nervous. What are we going to say to each other? You might feel pressure to keep the whole conversation going. Relax. Jesus is a great travel companion and He has a ton to say.
A set devotional time will become the favorite part of your day once you get the hang of just enjoying Jesus and navigating your day with Him. In Psalm 139, David describes this intimate truth: “You know when I sit and when I stand up,...You are so familiar with all my ways that before I speak even a word, Lord, you know all about it already.” (Psalm 139:2,4). Only a best friend or spouse can get close to this synchronized fellowship. Jesus, like our closest companions in life, can finish our sentences. He is the one who searches our hearts and knows exactly what the Spirit is thinking (Romans 8:26).
Meet up with Jesus in a special place. There is something private about a car that makes people feel safe and able to open up quickly. There are no distractions and usually requires only the maintenance of making sure you are still heading in the right direction (does this make me a dangerous driver?). Think of a place you can regularly relax and make memories with Jesus without distraction. Maybe that would be your deck with a cup of coffee in hand, your drive to work, or a walk on a trail. Spend time wondering about Jesus. Start with His word. As you read, you’ll be reminded of how He thinks and how He loves you. Use His word to begin thanking Him, and then move on to asking for Him to govern a situation in your life. Write down verses that really stand out to you on little cards that you can meditate on throughout your day. Like anyone else you would take a trip with, get to know His story, His dreams, His thoughts about life. Praying is not a ritual. Praying is personal. Every prayer affirms that you deem Jesus worthy of attention and value Him. You value His help for your concerns, but you also value knowing Him as someone you love. It would be very lonely if my husband, kids, or close friends only talked to me when they needed something. I love them and am happy to help, but just making memories together is equally valid and necessary in having a relationship. Learning about His heart energizes mine every day and He is wonderful company. Strike up a conversation, He is already buckled in.
Leyla Williams is a member of Church on the Mountain, a vibrant community of believers in Crowley Lake. We meet at 9:30 Sunday mornings. Call for more information: 935-4272 or www.ChurchOnTheMountain.org
Editor's Comment:
About the Writer Author
State:
California
Country:
United States
Email:
Paulafriedrichsen@live.com
Website:
www.churchonthemountain.org
Profile:
Click here!
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