Mark 1:35 “And in the morning, a great while before the day, he rose and went out to a lonely place, and there he prayed.”
“We started in all of this by crying out to God in private and taking risks in public. Those are essentials in healing, and they have never changed through the years.” – Bill Johnson, The Essential Guide to Healing
This morning I woke up at 5am. I wish I could say that it’s because I set my alarm, but really it’s because I was stressed. When I can’t sleep because I’m stressed, I get even more stressed that I can’t sleep, and any chance of returning to slumber dissipates as I slip down the proverbial downward spiral. I’m sure you’ve been there.
But I flipped on my audio bible, and then some worship music, and for the next hour or so God just really showed up. And as I sat down to journal, it dawned on me that this morning’s stress was the greatest gift I could ever ask for. We had a full day yesterday shifting out of quarantine, and today looks to be similarly packed. But if God is truly more important to me than anything else, isn’t it a blessing to sacrifice a bit of shuteye for some time with Him?
That’s even more true today than usual as I’ve been contending for healing. My friend is in a coma, my dad has cancer, and every day I feel like I’m hearing more accounts of people who need prayer for miracles. I desperately want restoration for those around me, and as Bill Johnson says, this follows from crying out to God in private and taking risks in public. Taking the time to pray and refill away from the crowd is exactly what Jesus did too. That clearly worked out for him.
If you’re stressed out today, I feel like God wants you to know that he is with you. He is for you, not against you. Perhaps it’s an opportunity to carve out some special quality time with your father in heaven. Lord, thank you for bringing peace today. Thank you for creating space so I can experience your love. You are a good God, who always has the best in store. In your son’s name, Amen.
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