This week on IF:Danville at Home I had the opportunity to interview my friend, Tracey. She shared a simple practice called “Rise to Rest” that has transformed her relationship with God. Her goal is to rise early while her house is quiet so she can spend time resting in Jesus before doing anything else. This enables her to let Him guide her for the rest of the day. Like Tracey, I love to do this. Right now, my favorite spot is in a rocking chair on my front porch wrapped in a warm blanket as the sun comes up.
If you haven’t tried spending time alone with God (or haven’t done it in a while), it can feel a bit daunting to know how to begin. I hope this simple guide will help you to find a rhythm that works for you and will enable you to connect with Jesus consistently.
First, let’s start with a few Scriptures to encourage you. James 4:8 tells us, “Come near to God and he will come near to you.” And in Jeremiah 29:13, the Lord says, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” So, trust that God is there waiting for you as you commit to rising to rest.
If you’re not a morning person, ask God to help you and let King David’s words encourage you: “In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.” (Psalm 5:3, NIV) Or, let the example of Jesus inspire you: “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” (Mark 1:35, NIV)
The Plan: Schedule time this week to rise to rest with Jesus. Plan ahead so you’ll be more likely to get up when your alarm goes off!
Prepare & Invite: Before opening your Bible, take a moment to be still and prepare your heart to read God’s Word. Clear your mind and invite the Holy Spirit to speak to you. Ask Him to give you a humble and responsive heart that will be transformed by Him.
Read & Observe: Slowly read the passage you choose two or three times. Observe the basic facts.
- What did it mean to the people of the day when it was written?
- What does it tell you about God? (His attributes, desires, promises, commands)
- What do you learn about humankind or yourself? (Does something in your life need re-alignment with God?)
Meditate: Focus on the parts that speak to you directly. Answer any of the following that apply:
- What has connected to my heart or mind?
- Why is God showing me this today?
- How does God want me to respond?
- What is one verse that stands out to me or that sums up the main point of this section?
Respond in Prayer: Talk to God about what He’s shown you through this text.
- Ask Him to reveal what He wants you to do.
- Wrestle with anything that challenges you or that seems too daunting to apply to your life.
- Confess anything that convicts you.
- Pray for anyone God brings to mind as you read this.
- Ask Him to help you apply what you’ve learned.
Share: Tell a friend about your experience and how God spoke to you. Ask them to hold you accountable to continue the practice of rising to rest.
Not sure what to read? Try the Psalms or a book in the New Testament. The gospel of John is a great place to start. Or, use my list of favorites below:
- Psalms 1, 5, 16, 18, 19,25, 27, 31, 32, 34, 51, 62, 63, 71, 73, 86, 91, 100, 103, 121, 138, 143
- Matthew 5, 6 & 7 (The Sermon on the Mount)
- Mark 4
- Luke 12
- John 15
- Acts 2 & 17
- Romans 8 & 12
- 1 Corinthians 13
- 2 Corinthians 4
- Galatians 5
- Ephesians 2 & 6
- Philippians 3 & 4
- Colossians 1 & 3
- 2 Timothy 1 & 2
- Hebrews 12
- 1 Peter 1
- 2 Peter 1
- 1 John 4
If you’d like to see my conversation with Tracey about rising to rest, click on the link below. It’s from Week 2 of IF:Danville at Home.
https://vimeopro.com/cpcdanville/marybethmccullum
Inspired by “What is a Quiet Time?” by Redeemer West Side Prayer Ministry. Oct. 2014.