Two Gifts
Welcome to Coffee Hour @ Chicklit Power and Trench Classes United. I’m
delighted you could join us today. Grab your Strand of Faith and let’s go tie
some knots in our faith with two gifts we can give this season that won’t
really cost you!
Have you ever been present but vacant in a conversation and suddenly someone
asks you what you think about what was just said? Perhaps you were thinking of
things you had to do, or maybe all of your responsibilities prevented you from
staying in the moments. Or how about when someone calls you for a favor and you
begrudgingly say yes but you really mean no because you feel like your agenda
has now been interrupted? And isn’t all
of that put on steroids during the Christmas season? I don’t know about you,
but when I’m the one talking, I really want to be listened to, don’t you?
See, one of the many hindrances to listening is being too busy. We are so
busy in our next moment, thinking of the next thing on our list of things to do
that we are not present in the present; as a result we miss the opportunities
to bless someone and be blessed.
I think two of the most valuable gifts we could give to one another are the
gift of time, and the gift of listening, which requires time! So while I
suggest they don’t really have a monetary cost, there is a sacrifice involved.
But how do we make the time to take the time to listen? It can’t happen and
won’t happen without a willingness to incorporate some time management tools.
See, you can’t give what you don’t have! When we put Him as our first priority
in the morning, we are not only better equipped to face what comes our way, but
we have the time to deal with it all.
In Matthew 5:6, Jesus goes to a secret place to talk to His Father. He
instructs us to do the same. Why do you think that is? Well, my first thought
is to get away from all the distractions of life. It’s so easy to get
distracted, isn’t it? Don’t beat yourself up about that because the more you
obsess on this truth, the more power it will hold and the more distracted you
will be. We are to go to our secret place because HE wants to have a one-on-one
with YOU!
Perhaps the first place we can practice giving these two precious gifts of
time and listening is to Him in our secret place in a private communication
with God. We know that true communication requires listening. In other words,
we don’t just go into our closet or our secret place and give Him a list of
things to do. He is not to be treated as a genie in a bottle; however, He does
want to hear our heart because He already sees our heart.
With that in mind, let’s look at the acrostic for P.R.A.Y., which is
something useful to incorporate as you set aside time with Him and learn to
listen:
P stands for praise: go into your secret place, and listen to some praise &
worship music, and just thank Him for His provision, protection and His
promises.
R stands for rewind the day before, and as you do, offer more praise to Him for
those moments you experienced Him, His presence, His provision, or perhaps a
promise came to life in you. And then if something you said or did comes to the
surface of your heart that nudges your heart with conviction, repent of it. Ask
Him to forgive you for it.
A stands for allow His presence to draw you closer and as you do He will stir
your heart and help you to ask for the desires of your heart, for yourself and
for others. This is a great time to ask for divine appointments for that day,
meaning opportunities to give of your time and listen. Sitting still in His
presence prepares your heart and tunes your ears for opportunities that He has
planned just for you that day.
Y stands for yield-hand over any burdens, sorrows as they relate to you and/or
others; this letting go is also a form of yielding to His will for your day in
exchange for your agenda. You may have to do this many times throughout the
day; that’s okay!
Remember, practice, practice, practice and look for
opportunities to give these eternal gifts away because you never know who He
will put in your path that needs a shoulder and an ear, too!
Love,
Evinda
Evinda
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