Making Room for God
By Tricia Foster
“Don’t be anxious about anything; rather, bring up all of your requests to God in your prayers and petitions, along with giving thanks.” – Philippians 4:6
Read
Reflect
Paul wrote these words while under house arrest. I can relate to Paul these days more than ever, although I expect my solitary confinement to end with joyful meetings instead of a trial and execution. Paul certainly expected his fate, and his attitude despite his future is an inspiration.
Feeling imprisoned, I feel the world progressing at a faster rate, while my personal life has slowed down. My to-do’s have mostly been delayed, rescheduled, closed indefinitely. I find more time to sit, to pray, to love those people closest to me. I’ve written, called, and texted people I always mean to, but never seem to have the time.
I doubt that Paul would have ever found the time to write such letters had he not been under arrest. Through that, he became the writer of almost half the books of the New Testament. What amazing things God can accomplish when he slows us down. How can I use the emptiness in my life to make room for God?
“If thou could’st empty all thyself of self,
Like to a shell dishabited,
Then might He find thee on the ocean shelf,
And say, ‘This is not dead’,
And fill thee with Himself instead.
But thou art all replete with very thou
And hast such shrewd activity,
That when He comes, He says, ‘This is enow
Unto itself – ’twere better let it be,
It is so small and full, there is no room for me.'”
-Sir Thomas Browne
Respond
Lord, as Paul could be thankful awaiting his trial, as Jesus could give thanks awaiting his trial as well, help me to be thankful for all things, all people in my life. Amen.
Remember
Choose thanksgiving today. What in your current situation can you be thankful for?
Comment below or use a journal to record how God is with you each day of this journey.
While many across the world are suffering, this pandemic, along with this reading, is God’s way of reminding us of how precious each of us is, how we are missing out on the simpler things in life, and how little we actually need beyond love for one another and our God!
I can’t express how wonderful this new lower level of stress I feel is, my joy at seeing neighbors and talking to friends and family via technology, and especially seeing the generosity of so many people supporting others!
I pray that we come through this experience with a renewed appreciation for all of our blessings, and a realization that God is the center of our lives.
I thank God today for a peaceful Rally in Everett Wa to Back the Blue and support the police while at the same time BLM was there across the street.
Sheriff Adam Fortney stands for our freedoms for all under the constitution of the USA. He is a believer doing his best.
The integrity of the upright guides them but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity. Dear God thankyou for helping us overcome duplicity and become faithful, to you first.
You said nothing else counts except faith expressing itself through love. Help us to love with deep courage that comes from you.