By: Larry Young
I’m on several church-related email lists, receiving roughly 10 or more such emails daily. Some are excerpts or commentaries from Ellen White’s writings or other authors; some are warnings regarding a wide spectrum of sins and shortfalls and how we should see ourselves and how we need to relate more effectively with Jesus and others. Some tell us how to prepare for the destruction of our way of life and our country; some are daily devotionals with unique perspectives. It’s a safe guess that I could spend every minute of my spare time just reading all those materials, but then never have any time or resources to actually do much with all that. Have you been there too?
Jesus himself often needed refuge from all the confusion, noise, and clamor to just spend time in prayer and reflection. His favorite local spot was the Garden of Gethsemane, which is still there today at the base of the Mount of Olives in East Jerusalem. The Franciscans continue to maintain that garden and local olive trees, some of which are ancestors of the very trees that were there when Jesus walked among them.
Do you long to hear the still small voice of the Holy Spirit speaking to you? How many poor decisions with bad outcomes could we have avoided by putting all of our cares and needs at the foot of the cross first…and then also listen for that quiet voice? Sometimes the answers come at a later time in unexpected ways; other times the answers just seem to pop into mind. The Holy Spirit never uses force or coercion to reach out to us: It’s only demonic spirits that use force or coercion. The Holy Spirit is motivated by the same love that Jesus and God the Father have. David’s Psalm 23 says it so powerfully:
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
Whether we realize it or not, each of us can have our own “Garden of Gethsemane” experience and put everything at the foot of the cross in prayer: “But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” (Matthew 6:6). Let Jesus rejuvenate your
mind and soul in a quiet place in prayer; He can then use you optimally to be a witness to others and to share the good news about our Lord and Savior Jesus.