Blog

Day3alt

“Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshippers were praying outside.” [Luke 1:8-10]

We’ll come to Zechariah shortly but, first, can I champion the benefits of a special time and place of quiet with God. Western life in the 21st Century can border on the lunatic, and it is all too easy to become the proverbial hamster on a wheel. Creating time and space to be still and quiet requires discipline. For our sanity, let alone tuning in to God and listening to His voice, it must be worthwhile getting it sorted. Incense has been widely used over the years and remains so in some traditions. I have taken to using a scented candle as an aide to stilling myself and relaxing in God’s presence. It helps me let go of the pressures of the day and create a special place. I can’t guarantee that God will appear like a genie or intervene in your life big time as he did with Zechariah, but Jesus spent much time in a place of quiet with His Father, and that makes it a priority for me.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, I want to spend more quality time with You, as You did with Your Father. Please show me a time and place where I can best create space to be with You and listen to Your voice. And grant me the discipline to go there and the ears to hear what You would speak into my life. Amen.