Get Quiet and Connect

This is what Stacy shared in her response to “How do I Get in Sync with Jesus?” Simple and profound.

How can you get quiet and connect when the days roll by, when activity fills every space?

To be in sync with Jesus doesn’t mean eliminating activity, it means walking with Him in the middle of it. Can I get quiet and connect while working? While driving? While hanging out with friends? While on my phone? While golfing?

It seems Jesus needed to get away regularly to do this, and as a result He was able to live in connection with His Father (God) when with people!

What happens when I let days turn into weeks without unplugging from activity? I lose my reference point for connection, and for the trust that results. “Be still and know that I am God” is a distant guilt-producing reminder- or an invitation to drink from the relationship where I find real life.

Take a moment to get quiet and connect, right now. Pause. Hear the invitation from Jesus. Whew.

The Noise of Life

Jesus replied, “My Father is always working, and so am I.” John 5:17

Why is it so hard to live in that reality? One author says its because we can’t break free from our internal reactive commentary…

“The reactive life is strengthened by those sudden spasms of talking, talking, talking, talking to ourselves about life and love and how everybody ought to behave and vote. This twittering chatter keeps the attention riveted to and identified with objects that appear in our minds.” p. 18, The Sunlit Absence, Martin Laird

He goes on to say that learning to be present to God in prayer is what sets us free.

How can we do that? He tells the story of a guy who tried to learn this by going on a silent prayer retreat. The only problem, every day a neighbor would fire up his saw in the garage and it literally rattled the walls of his room. He got so ticked off he almost exploded. Finally, after a few days another person (on his own prayer retreat in another room) went over and confronted the guy, yelling and screaming…

But something happened. The first guy began to see that knowing God is always working can happen in the midst of noise. The “loudest saw” can be our own internal commentary. Laird says in prayer we can “gradually move from being agitated victim to silent witness” meaning we can experience God at work.

Most days I’m like the guy who went over to confront the neighbor. I’m learning by experience- to witness God at work comes from being present to Him in prayer, all through the day. Easier said than done.

“Satan blocked our way” 1 Thess. 2:18

Jesus said in Matthew 13:19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart.

Whenever we attempt to practically follow Jesus we will encounter obstacles.

When have you experienced a nudge, an impression to take a step forward with Jesus?

Set aside some time to pray and read the Bible?

• Have you ever been more exhausted? More distracted?

Connect with your neighbor?

• Could life be any more busy? Why am I so drawn to other stuff?

Make amends with someone?

• What’s up with the increased bitterness and indifference?

Serve outside your comfort zone? Dreams in your heart to make a difference?

• Why the waves of anxiety? Inadequacy? Fear of the unknown?

Take a few moments to get in sync with Jesus and identify the nudge or impression. Receive His strength. Take a step forward today!

Everyday Reminders

What if Jesus pointed to something you saw everyday and connected it with following Him? That's how he taught. Whenever you saw it in the future all the emotion would come rushing back, the sights, the sounds, the smells, the meaning, the message. You'd remember the inflection of His voice, the piercing and pleading of His eyes, the intensity and lightness of His manner.

Imagine today, Jesus might say "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Get in sync with me and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. You were made for my operating system, it has no flaws and it’s made perfectly for you, it’s not taxing but life-giving.”

Whenever you see a computer or sync devices you'd remember, that's like my connection with Jesus. We all are invited to get in sync with Jesus. What does it look like for you? That place where you connect with Him and experience His life? The place you get in touch with the sights, sounds, and meaning of His living Word.

Here are a few examples (check out more on SHV's Facebook page):

Chrissy Utesch: One of the ways I sync with Jesus is by getting out and enjoying His creation. He speaks and I am eager to listen.

Middleton Family: Family Bible reading and listening - the kids draw their responses to what Jesus is stirring in them.

Email your picture and tell us how you get in sync with Jesus or post a comment on SHV's Facebook.

In sync with Jesus

Sync /siNGk/  short for synchronize, is defined as to match up, or when people or things move together.

Last week I finally resolved to fix my calendar problem after missing an important date.  My calendar was in the "failure to sync" mode across all my devices.  Back in the old days I kept everything in one place, a "Day-timer."  Now because it's soooo much easier, I can enter a new event on my computer and it shows up on my iPad and my phone and I never forget.  Unless there is a failure to sync... 

To "live well" before God is to live in a synchronized relationship with Jesus, as Eugene Peterson says to live "in equilibrium." 

Here's what it looks like for me to get in sync with Jesus.

getting quiet, reading, listening, engaging

What about you?  How do you get in sync with Jesus?