Come Away

September 12, 2021

Make space for the Lord.

Come Away

By guest writer, Julia Phillips

“O God, because without you we are not able to please you, mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.” - The Book of Common Prayer, The Collect for Year B, Proper 19

We live in an age of distraction. Alerts on our phones ding and demand to be viewed. Social media draws us to its magnetic force. Smart devices anticipate and communicate what we should buy and where we should go. Uninvited noise threatens to invade our space if we are not intentional about turning it off.

Even in ancient times, the tyranny of the urgent imposed itself upon people. Imagine Jesus’ experiences when he walked into a town and the real, important needs of humanity crowded around him. He had to go away to a quiet place to be with his Father, to be nourished spiritually, to be directed, and to let the Father rule in his heart.

We too must make space (in a mental, spiritual, and physical sense) to be aware and to hear what the Lord is speaking. The Holy Spirit is always with us. His presence in our lives is part of our inheritance as adopted sons and daughters of God. Let us be available to hear how he directs and to let him reign.

Reflection:
Is there a practical change you can make in your daily life to be in a posture of listening to the Holy Spirit? Jesus told his disciples that the Holy Spirit would teach them all things and remind them of everything he said to them (John 14:26). Is there something Jesus has spoken to you in your life that he may want to remind you of right now, through the power of the Holy Spirit? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

Related Resource:

Jesus calls the Holy Spirit a "gift" who will guide us, lead us, and empower us. Yet many believers don't experience the power and presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives. This unique Christian small group Bible study provides a space in which we can explore what it truly means to "walk in the Spirit" on a daily basis. The Spirit-Filled Life small group curriculum centers on a 6-part video teaching series examining the life-giving and creative work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Begin to experience the gift today!