We went to dinner last night at a restaurant you would never find if it had not been recommended. The owner greeted us as we were walking through to the dining area, introducing himself as Dagher. The walk to our table seemed magical, like the place grew larger the further we walked. There were several separate dining areas, and in the back, a huge area used for weddings and rehearsal dinners.
After being seated, Dagher came over to share the menu with us and asked if we had questions. We found out he was also the chef. He took our orders, and left to prepare our entrees. It was a remarkable evening.
Dagher chatted with us throughout our meal. He had just ended a relationship, and was heartbroken. My husband told him God was about purpose, and not about timing. That was all Dagher needed to hear to begin to share about his relationship with Jesus. He was Catholic, and talked about how much he loved the rosary. My husband and I were both Catholic at one time, and felt the rituals were somewhat meaningless. However, listening to Daghar talk about how speaking those words over and over put him in place where he could hear God clearly, I was feeling a bit jealous. I hate to admit it, but I haven’t sat still long enough to hear Jesus in quite some time. Between work and all the travel I’ve been doing, my prayers have been few and far between.
King David spent a lot of time in prayer, as is evident in the Psalms. In fact, David is said to have authored 73 of them. In Psalm 141, verse 1, David wrote:
“I call to you, Lord, come quickly to me; hear me when I call to you.” David was in constant relationship with the Father. God even called him “a man after my own heart.”
My prayers often happen when my head hits the pillow, my last thought of the day. Not that I think He listens any less. I know He still hears me, but I often miss His reply because I don’t take time to listen.
Thankfully, I can start anew.
“Only acknowledge your guilt- you have rebelled against the Lord your God, you have scattered your favors to foreign gods.” (Jeremiah 3:13)
That foreign god has been work. It has taken most of my time and focus. I long for the relationship I had when He was my first thought, not my last.
Father, I want to refocus my life. I have spent so much time trying to build a business lately that I realize I have lost touch with You. I sometimes forget that I need You in the details. I want to be in charge, and the result is never as good as it is when I allow you to take the reigns. Please help me to keep You first. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Kelly Stilwell (guest on 66 Books) is a freelance writer and blogger at www.kellystilwell.com.
Sixty-six books in a year 