Now more than ever, it seems we’ve run out of room for Jesus. It’s easy to start your morning with Instagram, get through Lagos traffic, work, school, tasks, errands, meetings and end the day with Netflix in an attempt to just cool off.
The system has been designed to choke and shift our focus away from God such that we have little or no time to spend with him.
But just as doctors say it’s not ideal to go through your day without food, With the level of deception and the mechanism of mind control operating in the world today, we need God’s word and voice to discern what to do per time and make the right decision.
Jesus had so much to do every day and it must have been difficult for him to escape and get some rest (Mark 6:31). God was using him in amazing ways — feeding the 5,000 and walking on water! He saw the vast needs of all the people (‘He had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd’, Mark 6:34).
They were desperate for him and were literally running towards him (Mark 6:33,55). Regardless, Jesus found it necessary to send them all off. He needed some solitude. He climbed a mountain to pray (symbolizing the challenges you have to overcome sometimes to find and secure that solitude) (Mark 6:45–46). He prioritized his time alone with God.
Making room for God in your everyday involves cultivating His presence — being aware that his wrap-around presence around us and creating an atmosphere for God to speak to us all day.
“God’s glory is all around me! His wrap-around presence is all I need, for the Lord is my Savior, my hero, and my life-giving strength.” Psalms 62:7 TPT
We can intentionally make a room for God in all endeavours daily if we make a daily practice of three things:
1. Create pockets during the day for God; set a reminder on your phone to pray in the Spirit, study and meditate during the course of the day.
2. Intentionally ask for his help and trust him!
A number of us love to use our reasoning to figure out things without depending on God for direction.
Sometimes we even ask him and then still go ahead with what we think works best…
Proverbs 14: 12 says There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end, it leads to death.
We can’t afford to trust your ability completely to make a decision with our emotions and reasoning without depending on the help of the Spirit (who knows all things)
“Join me, everyone! Trust only in God every moment! Tell him all your troubles and pour out your heart-longings to him. Believe me, when I tell you — he will help you! Pause in his presence.” Psalms 62:8 TPT
David here had tested and testified assuredly that God will help those who trust him with everything.
3. Create an atmosphere of worship and Joy!
“I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.” Psalms 34:1 NIV
During the course of every day, take a song break and meditate on God’s goodness and faithfulness to you through your words, and medleys.
“Bursts forth in singing and rejoicing, for with joy, you will draw water from the wells of salvation.” Isaiah 12:3 NIV
As simple as these things are, they are powerful means of making room for him in our everyday life.
Prayer
Lord, thank you for the amazing privilege that we have of being able to cultivate time in your presence, thank you for the [privilege of listening to your voice and that you speak to me. Help me to be more intentional about making room for you in every area of my life. Keep me walking in a close relationship with you each day.
Amen!
Ayomide Apara