Influencers Weekly Devotional 10/17/2014

October 17, 2014

Find Your Beach

By

Bryan Craig

"Be still, and know that I am God."  Psalm 46:10a

Have you guys seen that Corona commercial where people are enjoying their beer in lots of different locations, but no matter where they are, in their mind, they are at a beach?  It's very clever, and it reminds me of a similar thought I had years ago.  I had just made a decision to follow Christ fully, and I was discovering the treasures to be found in His Word.  I was a young father, with a new baby, so I would sneak out of the house early in the morning, so I wouldn't wake my daughter.  I found my way to a little bakery, where I would open God's Word and my journal, and I would get lost with Him for a few hours every morning.  It was a very special time in my life, where I first discovered how much God wanted to commune with me.  The Bakery came to symbolize that special place where we meet God, wherever it may be for an individual.

I now have four daughters, I run a small business, I'm involved in a few Boards and I am involved with lots of men's ministry.  I find myself overrun with tasks, obligations and responsibility and from the moment I wake up, my mind starts reeling with my "To Do" list.  I feel as if I don't have enough time to do everything I need to do on any given day.  The temptation is to charge out to take on the day, but in my heart, a voice is calling me back to "The Bakery."  God is calling me to press the pause button, to be still and spend some time with Him.

Right about now, you are thinking, "Yeah, we all know the importance of a quiet time." But I think you may need to be reminded, like me, that this is the most important part of the day.  Lamentations 3:22-23 tells us that "His compassions never fail, they are new every morning."  God has a fresh word for us every morning, just like my little Bakery, where fresh bread and pastries are prepared each morning.  Nobody comes into that bakery wanting yesterday's bread...they want the warm, fresh food.  Think about the Israelites in the desert, when God sent them manna from Heaven.  They were instructed to eat their fill each day, but they were not to save it for the next day, otherwise it would rot and be filled with maggots.  God wanted them to awake each morning, anticipating a fresh filling of His bread.  Similarly, God has a fresh word for us each morning, something we may need for that particular day.  If we don't make the time to slow down and seek Him, we will miss it. 

Our Lord Jesus was engaged with people most of His days, teaching and discipling, but it is recorded that He would steal away to be alone with the Father.  One of His special times with the Father is written in John 17, as Jesus contemplates His forthcoming death, His purpose on the Earth and His love for His disciples.  It is in these times of communing with the Father that we gain insight into our mission, where we find the strength to fulfill it, and where the Father's love fills us to overflowing.

In "The Journey to the Inner Chamber," the image of the Inner Chamber is presented where man goes to be with Jesus.  It is a special place with a fireplace and two chairs, one for you and one for Jesus.  Once a man enters, the doors shut, and only the man and Jesus know what occurs.  But when the man emerges from the room, he is equipped with armor, and he is ready for what is ahead.  Ephesians 6:13-18 tells us to "Put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground."  Brothers, in this evil world, that day of evil is TODAY!  You must be ready for the battle, and the ONLY way to be ready is to spend some time with Jesus.

You have a choice to make.  You can rush out into the world on the nourishment of yesterday's manna, only to discover that your strength will fail in the time of need.  Or you can find your "Bakery" today and feast on His Word and His provision for the day.  Then, you will be ready for the battle.  There is a great story in 2 Samuel 5:17-25, which I know I've mentioned before, but it bears repeating.  The Philistines were coming to attack David, so he spent some time with the Lord, asking for God's battle plan.  God gave him the green light to go and fight them, promising him victory.  And David defeated them.  However, it says in v. 22 that the Philistines came back a few days later.  David could have surely gone out to attack them on the strength of yesterday's word from the Lord.  However, this servant of the Lord, who had learned as a young shepherd the value of being still with the Lord, sought the Lord's counsel again.  This is good, because God had a different plan.  He had David circle around the rear of the Philistine army, while the Lord Himself went in front to defeat them.  Thankfully, David took the time to inquire of the Lord and was obedient to His command.

Guys, just as God wants us to give Him a tithe of the resources He has given us, He wants us to give Him a tithe of our time.  Find your "Beach" or your "Bakery" and let Him take you to the mountaintop.  He loves you so much that He wants to talk to you.  He wants to prepare you for your day.  As it says in Malachi 3:10, "Test Me on this and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough to contain it." Give him the firstfruits of your time and your heart each day, and see what happens.  He wants to fill you with so much love and provision that you won't be able to contain it.