Author Archives: simondodge
Wake Up and Listen…
Reading: Isaiah 49-50
Scripture
The Sovereign Lord has given me an instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught. The Sovereign Lord has opened my ears, and I have not been rebellious; I have not drawn back. Isaiah 50:4-6 (NIV)
Observations
This is a wonderful insight from Jesus talking in first person about the process of listening and obeying. Jesus is woken each morning not by his alarm clock but by the voice of his father calling him. His ear is awakened to listen. Day by day, in other words, every day begins by waiting on God and listening.
What is covered in this time of listening? Perhaps they're things I need to know concerning the day ahead. Perhaps things concerning the future, or my general calling. Perhaps a word that I can share to encourage someone else. Or maybe something that God really wants me to know.
But of greatest importance is how I respond to what I hear. Ultimately, I listen so that I can know, understand, and obey. As Jesus says, “I have not been rebellious; I have not drawn back.” And when the rubber meets the road, how much easier is it to obey when I have actually spent time with God, heard his voice, and determined in my heart that I will trust him and obey.
Application
Aside from my normal quiet time, I need to set aside 5-10 minutes each morning, before anything else, to just listen to God. I can start as soon as I wake as I lay in my bed. Perhaps a short walk to escape distractions would help too. And like Daniel, spending a few minutes during the day would also be a great help.
Prayer
Help me Jesus to follow your example and become a dedicated listener. And father, I pray that just as you woke Jesus morning by morning, you would awaken me, and awaken my ears to hear your voice. Please speak, your servant is listening.
One great way to listen to God is to read the Bible and apply SOAP. You can learn more about this helpful technique here: What is SOAP?
God is My Home
Reading: Psalm 87-90
Scripture
Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. Psalm 90:1-2 (NIV)
Observation
God is my home. His Presence is the place where I live, my residence and refuge. In him my affections are centred, and my sense of identity and belonging are founded. More than to any physical place or to any people group on planet earth, I belong to God. And God is no temporary shelter, no place to rest my head just for the time being. He is eternal, from everlasting to everlasting. Before every other home came into being, and long after they will cease to be, he is God and he is my home.
Application
“Home is where the heart is,” as the saying goes. It is good to remember that this earth and the treasures it holds will one day pass away. May I hold lightly to those things, and instead put my heart and soul into seeking the Kingdom of God, and to satisfying the desires of my heart in him.
Prayer
Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe. I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings. For you have heard my vows, O God; you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name. Psalm 61:1-6
Breathe and Be Breathed Upon
Reading: Exodus 23-24
Scripture
“Six days do your work, but on the seventh day do not work, so that your ox and your donkey may rest and the slave born in your household, and the alien as well, may be refreshed. Exodus 23:12 (NIV)
Observation
God is concerned with our well-being, and so he commanded the Israelites to have rest and refreshment. This was to be for everyone, even animals, and even the ground. In addition to a weekly rest, three times a year there were festivals which had the dual role of focusing the people on God and giving them a holiday. The sabbaths and the festivals therefore provided for physical, mental and spiritual refreshment.
Refresh; to breathe; passively, to be breathed upon, i.e. (figuratively) refreshed (as if by a current of air)
Application
Refreshment should be a natural part of my life, a cycle, like a clock consisting of many cogs, some small, some large, and a very few larger still. As time ticks by, each cog goes through its cycle, pausing for a second to rest between each movement, or for a minute, or maybe for an hour. This is the way God plans for me to work and rest. Every part of me needs to be regularly refreshed – the physical, the mental and the spiritual. For true refreshment, all three need my disciplined attention.
Prayer
Thank you Lord for the opportunity to rest. Thank you for the refreshment that comes from your Word, and the opportunity to pause and enjoy spending time with you. Here I am Lord, to unwind, to worship and to drink from your spring of living water. To breathe, and be breathed upon.
Jesus Wants Me to Ask!
Reading: Mark 10:35-52
Scripture
So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.Mark 10:49-52 (NIV)
Observation
“What do you want me to do for you?” This is Jesus' response to blind Bartimaeus' cries for mercy, and is exactly the same response as the one he makes to John and James in the story immediately before. But something about their attitude was different: Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.”What they wanted was a position of importance, to be seated at the right and left of Jesus in glory. And yet despite their forwardness and the inappropriateness of their request, Jesus doesn't rebuke them for asking. He simply explains to them why he can't grant that request, and takes the opportunity to teach them about what it means to be great in the kingdom of God.
Application
Jesus expects me to ask him for things – things I need, and things I'd like him to do. In Matthew 7:7-8, he tells me, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”It's possible that at times I might ask for something inappropriately, but Jesus won't mind. It's an opportunity for him to teach me. On the other hand, to not ask at all – that would be a great shame. What blessing might I miss out on for lack of boldness in asking, or from simply not understanding that the God I serve delights to show his love and kindness to me.
Prayer
Thank you Lord for these two stories. I want to be an “asker”, and to enjoy the riches of your kindness to me. I don't want to miss out on anything you have for me because of my own lack of faith or understanding. Please give me faith, and open my eyes to see you as you really are, and to know your love which surpasses all understanding.
Sneaking Off With God... 