Day 17 : Mark 6:31, 45-46
Come with me and get some rest
Throughout Mark we see that Jesus, amidst the busy life he leads, takes time out to be by himself. Jesus likes to take space to refresh, retreat, recharge and pray. He demonstrates the importance of a quiet place and rest. In our world today busyness can often be worn as a badge. A competition of who can be busiest. But why? We are created as human beings not human doings! Let’s learn how to just ‘be’. Tara has been discovering more about this for herself. She shares her story below.
It is in being that I find myself closest to God. Retreat time is essential to my journeying in faith. Throughout my life, and before becoming an active Christian, I have written as a form of reflection and taken time to consciously be by myself. As a natural extrovert this is something I have to deliberately do in order to refresh and restore myself, press the reset button so to speak.
Nowadays, within the language of faith, I write a spiritual journal and take retreats. Journaling is not something I do on a daily basis but when I am processing or learning something. Journals become a treasured gift as I am able to see where I have been and in what ways God has touched my life or answered prayers. I take time out to speak with a spiritual friend, for me my spiritual director, to reflect on my Christian journeying and walk with Jesus. Stepping aside from life to purposefully be with God. Time out away from the busyness can enable me to hear the still small voice of God that speaks within.
Prayer is simply chatting with God. God promises to hear us because God loves us and wants to be in a relationship with us. Here is a simple prayer that might help you retreat from the busyness of this world;