A QUIET PLACE



”Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed. “  Mark 1:35 

We find a very valuable lesson in Jesus’ example. Choosing a solitary place for bible study and talking to God could go a long way to end spiritual burnout among us as Christians.  We see under the Old Covenant, the tabernacle was set up to be a place of fellowship and communion between God and His people.  It was there they rendered their various religious duties to God.  It was also there that God revealed His will to them.

Leviticus 1 begins with the words, “The Lord called to Moses and spoke to him from the Tent of Meeting.”  The word translated “called” means God spoke in a gentle voice. No lightning and thunder as on Mount Sinai. This was the gentle voice of God.

 Today, God has chosen to communicate with us through His word found in the Bible.  It is his constant instruction that shapes our hearts and gives us faith.

“Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.”  Romans 10:17

“For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.”  1 Peter 1:23

“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”  Hebrews 4:12

“And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.” 1 Thessalonians 2:13

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.”  Colossians 4:2

It is a great advantage to have a special place set aside where we spend time with God.  For a few minutes each day, that place becomes our mountainside, that solitary place, where we pray and talk to God.

We all need a place to go and be alone in our private Bible study and prayer with God.   There was a young man who was determined to have a daily quiet time alone with God.   He cleaned up a little storage closet next to the furnace room, put a map of the world on the wall, and placed a little chair in the room and prayed to God at the start of each day.  Other family members complained about the house being too crowded, but this young man found his place to privately meet with God.

“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.  But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.   And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.  Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” Matthew 6:5-8

If we really want to have a daily quiet time, there is nothing that can stop us.   Let us find a quiet place where we can be alone with our Lord.  Then in prayer, pour out our hearts to him.

HERE IS A SHORT PRAYER:  Dear Holy Father who art in heaven, as we meditate on Your Word and talk to you in prayer, please guide our walk with You this day and make clear to us Your peace and contentment.  In Jesus name we pray.   Amen.

SCRIPTURE: “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”  Matthew 26:41

Let us find a place where we can meet the Lord on a daily basis?  

A place where there are no distractions, and where we can listen to what God’s word says as we study the Bible. 

Then go to our Father in prayer as we open up and pour out our hearts to Him.

Mike Price

WHAT GODLINESS IS NOT

“For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” 

1 Timothy 4:8

Godliness: is the careful observance of or conformity to the laws of God (law of faith) – obedient to the commands of God from love for, and reverence of his character – devout – when one follows Jesus Christ and his example.  Knowing God is there and acting like God is there.

Godliness is not having only an outward appearance! 

But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”  1 Samuel 16:7

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.  It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,  while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,  who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.”  Titus 2:11-14

Godliness is not a form of godly activity that only pretends to belong to God!

“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.  People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.”    2 Timothy 3:1-5

“Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly.”  1 Timothy 4:7

Godliness is not having a Sunday only religion!

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.  For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.  Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  2 Peter 1:5-11

“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.  Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives.”  2 Peter 3:11

What is in our hearts?

Is our life one of pretense? 

Is our life for Christ a daily walk or is it only a Sunday event? 

Have we set aside our lives for God?

Are we willing to give our lives to God everyday?

HERE IS A SHORT PRAY:  Our father who art in heaven, please help our faith and our resolve so that we may be found devoted to you in all godliness for Christ’s sake.  In Jesus name we pray.  Amen.

SCRIPTURE:  “But godliness with contentment is great gain.  For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.  But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.  People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.  For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.  But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.  Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.   In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,  which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords,  who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.”   1 Timothy 6:6-16

Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself; the LORD will hear when I call to him.

Psalm 4:3

We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly man who does his will.

John 9:31

Mike Price

TO BLESS IS TO BE BLESSED

“Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.” 

Proverbs 11:25

The writer of Proverbs is teaching us the great lesson of blessing others and in turn we are blessed. In doing so, we become like our Lord.   

“To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.”  1 Peter 2:21  

“In everything set them an example by doing what is good.”  Titus 2:7

“Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”  Ephesians 5:1-2

In giving water to others, our thirst is quenched.  How?   When we are helping others, we help ourselves. We have God given talents, which are brought to light by exercise. Our strengths are hidden even from ourselves until we engage in the Lord’s battles, or climb the mountains of difficulty.

“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”  Luke 6:38

“Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.  Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”  Galatians 6:1-2

Giving others a drink of water satisfies our own thirst and makes us humble. In helping others, our own comfort is also increased.

There were two men who were lost in Alaska and found themselves caught in the sub-zero weather.  One of the men was freezing and close to death.  His friend began to rub his freezing limbs to keep him from dying.  In doing so, it increased his own circulation, and saved not only his friend but his own life as well.

“Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.”  1 Corinthians 10:24

“So in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”  Romans 12:5

“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”  Matthew 7:12

In giving others a drink of water we give it also to Christ.

“And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.” Matthew 10:42

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?  When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?  When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’  ”The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’”  Matthew 25:37-40

HERE IS A SHORT PRAYER:  Our Father who art in heaven, we thank you for your love.  Give us the heart to reach out and bless the lives of those around us with love and service.   In Jesus name we pray.  Amen.

SCRIPTURE: “Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together.  One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”  Jesus replied: ” ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”  Matthew 22:34-40

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”

John 13:34 

In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ “ 

Acts 20:35

Mike Price