Saturday, March 1st, 2014click here for past entriesMaking Space for God
Recently I found myself trying to squeeze in watching the most exciting parts of the Olympics in between everything else. I recorded the games that I wanted to see and watched them when I could – usually trying not to find out who won before I got to watch it. After a few days of this, I realized what was getting squeezed out: my time for prayer and worship each day.
In the days that followed, it took some real discipline to turn off the TV and focus on prayer. However, I also noticed a big difference. I was able to be far more in tune with God’s Spirit on the days when I did set aside that time for prayer and worship. I also realized that what I was doing in maintaining this discipline was making space for God.
A few years ago, Kelly mentioned at one of our Lenten services that she had heard Lent described in this way – a time to make space for God. As I think about some of the traditional Lenten disciplines, this makes so much sense. Fasting, for example, is a means of emptying yourself. While not everybody is able to fast for health reasons, those who do fast find that it is much easier to focus on God within you and around you when you’re not full of food all the time.
Another common practice during Lent is to set aside more time than usual for prayer and devotions and worship. Some people read special Lenten devotions. Some read a book of the Bible or two during Lent. Some participate in mid-week worship. For most people, when you add more time for prayer and worship, you spend less time on something else. Thus, some “fast” from watching TV, or from video games, or from various online pursuits during Lent. This is another way to make space for God.
Another common practice is to “fast” from buying things that we don’t really need in order to be able to give more to those who need it the most. For some people, this means buying a few less coffees each week or eating out less. For others, it means only buying the essentials and leaving out the unnecessary purchases. For some, it might even mean selling some things that are no longer needed, and giving the money to the poor. – Yet another way to make space for God.
All of these things, at least to some degree, involve discipline, and some are better at discipline than others. However, have you ever noticed that the word discipline is very similar to disciple? A disciple is basically a “learner,” and it is through discipline that we also learn. In the case of spiritual disciplines, we learn how to make space for God – and in doing so continue to learn from Jesus.
And so, whatever you decide to do this Lent, make space for God. If you need to give something up in order to make room, do it! But don’t give up chocolate or something just so you can tell others what you gave up for Lent. That so misses the point!
I will be sending out a link via e-mail to people who might be interested in a very good online daily Lenten devotion that usually includes readings, pictures and music. If you are interested, and I don’t have your e-mail, just let me know.
In Christ,
Pastor Lynne Hutchison
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