My favorite time of day is early morning before dawn. The darkness is turning into light; the silence is peaceful and still; the crazy pace of activity has not yet begun. Sitting with a cup of coffee, “liquid grace,” I watch the new day birth. I focus on God, pondering His marvelous workmanship. As I meditate upon Him gracing me with a new day, I am filled with something that words cannot describe that fortifies me to face the day.
Today as I sat in my silent contemplative time, the words to a song came to mind. “Blessed assurance ….” I didn’t remember the rest of the song, but those words summed up my attitude of prayer today. Pondering on the concept of strength, I recall I am able to move mountains; to uproot trees and cast them into the sea; to take on giants; to face death defiantly and speak to it, “Death, where is your sting?” Do I feel that confidence today? Most days, not.
Strength isn’t about feeling strong, courageous, and pumped up for combat. I am so weak; so broken; so full of holes I could not hold any amount of strength that God would pour into me. But strength is not about my abilities or within my capacity. Strength is God’s gift to me of the blessed assurance that He is present. Not merely somewhere close by me, but dwelling within me; abiding in me; surrounding me; equipping me for the mission of today.
We’re seeing more electric cars, bikes, scooters nowadays. They get plugged in to recharge. We too need to be spiritually recharged daily. Our plugin source is prayer. Now, if you are not a person of prayer, or if your prayer seems unproductive, or you find little time to pray, then you face your day with a depleted battery; often times feeling overwhelmed, fearful, and anxious. You stumble about your day aimlessly hoping to survive.
Prayer is a time I set aside to be present to the God who dwells within me. It is a time I make, a time I position myself, to focus on His presence; to attune myself to His silent abiding within. It is watching the day unfold through the eyes of faith.
As I leave this silent refuge with God, there are often no fire works; no feelings of consolation; no great revelations. Most often times I don’t hear Him audibly speak. More likely than not, I still feel weak, broken, vulnerable, and unsure about facing the challenges of the day. But when my eyes of faith settle on Jesus sleeping in my boat, I have that blessed assurance that all is well; I am fortified to take up my cross and continue my pilgrimage in faith. Having recharged, I am now ready to face the day, believing and trusting that God is my strength and He dwells within me; that blessed assurance, that when I am weak, God is strong.
For Reflection:
When is my favorite time of day, my silent refuge with God? How might I be experiencing God’s blessed assurance at this time in my life? Do my eyes of faith focus on my troubles and woundedness or on Jesus? Where and how do I spiritually recharge?
Prayer:
O God, You make all things new. Be with me in my silent refuge. Renew me with Your Blessed Assurance, that I may face my challenges with Your peace and joy, knowing that You love me and are here with me.
(blogged May 1, 2024)
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