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Devotional for April 11, 2020

Quiet Time Out

 "For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from him." (Psalm 62:5 NRSV)

 And now we wait.

 After the action of remembering Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem being heralded with palms, night of His betrayal and His last meal with His disciples, and then His arrest, trial, crucifixion, and burial, now we wait.

 As today, traditionally called Holy Saturday, is the day on which we remember how Jesus laid in the tomb after He died, we get some time out.

 Time out to reflect: to reflect on how Jesus has been working in us during this last week, as we have meditated on the week leading up to His suffering and death. Time out to consider what it is Jesus died for, that we are to repent of and ask for His forgiveness. Time out to ask Jesus what it is that is to be changed in us to help us live the life He wants for us. Time out to rest our minds and bodies to relax in the presence of Jesus, to let Him refresh and renew us. Time out to pray for the needs of our families, friends, communities, and the whole world, especially for an end to the coronavirus. Time out to spend in quiet prayer, asking Jesus to continue to work in our hearts and minds. Time out to spend our day in quiet rest, resting with Jesus.

 We also have time out to wait: to wait for Jesus' victorious resurrection tomorrow. To wait for Him to heal us. To wait for Him to work in our minds and hearts to resolve any worries and anxieties we have, to help us trust more in Him. To wait for Him to overcome whatever it is in our lives that needs overcoming - a struggle, a crisis, an addiction, a sorrow, a conflict, a doubt. To wait for Him to act, in whatever way He will be acting in our lives these next few days.

 And now we wait.

 Dear Jesus, help me to take time out each day to spend with you, and to wait patiently for you to act in my life. In your Name, Amen.

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