Quietness

Why must we maintain busyness?

I have pondered this question in the past few days and inoculated it's grandness and depth. What is the point of being busy? How it ever disturbs us from desiring and seeking God!

A few days ago I read from "The Way of the Heart" by Henri Nouwen. A section of this book deals with prayer. In the book, Nouwen looks at our common notions toward prayer. Often seen as time of talking to God, we forget to listen. Delving into this, Nouwen writes of the Desert Fathers desire for more contemplative time with God, allowing communion with Him to be time of communication rather than speaking at God with all we have to say and letting that be the end of it. As I have heard from other authors as well, we finish with saying "In Jesus' name" and it's like we're casting a spell on God and it must be done because we said those magic words.

What a shame it is that some believe that.

I have been challenged in reading this though. I know that what I pray, when I close with those words, is my trust completely relies on Jesus, no one else. He is my hope and my light and it is only because of Him THAT I CAN come to God and communicate.

Obviously God is bigger than we are and we can share everything on our mind to Him in prayer! Yes He is! But where is the rest in between of waiting on Him, not only wanting Him to speak, but expecting Him to?

These thoughts have been burning in my mind and are taking effect in my life. I desire for God to lead--not pushing all my "prayer needs" on Him and expecting Him to just do. I want God to have total effect on all those I name before Him, but I desire to hear Him.

Maybe I don't pray right. Maybe I don't seek God correctly.

Or maybe this is how we need to.

I am choosing quietness. I am choosing to serve Him and wait for Him. I am choosing to shut off my mind so that He maybe have my full attention. The new prayer I scream from my heart is that my eyes would be fixed on Him and I would keep abiding in Him so that I may bring Him fruit. (Thanks for your help on that Jeremy Riddle!)

May the blessing of the Lord surround you this day! Soli deo gloria!

Brandon