Adventure - Day 26
TREASURED MOMENTS
“All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often.”
Luke 2:18-19 NLT
I’ve always loved this picture of Mary. In my mind, I see her either holding Jesus, staring at him and getting lost in his eyes, or looking at him from a distance as others interact with him. There’s something sweet and intimate about her intentional holding on to certain moments in her heart.
Though I think that’s something all mothers do, there is something that God taught me on a plane trip once that I think ties into this same idea.
I don’t remember all the details of the trip, like where I was going or what I was going for, but I do know it was a cross-country flight, and it had been during a busy season of ministry. I was tired, a little burned out, but I’m sure another ministry opportunity was waiting for me when I got off the plane.
As the plane broke through the layer of clouds, I looked as the sun was coming up in the east. It was an early morning flight, so the colors that danced across the sky as the sun got more into view were spectacular.
As I watched out that window, I heard God speak to me. Immediately, I went to grab my journal so I could write down His words and my reflections. As a pastor, I often share most of my spiritual life with those I’ve been called to help lead. I was about three words into writing when all of a sudden, I stopped. I put down my pen. I looked back out the window. Then I clearly heard God say to me, “Paddy, this thought, this moment…this one is just between you and me. You don’t need to share this one.”
I can’t tell you how much those words meant to me. I had definitely fallen into the trap of simply living my spiritual life for others. I read the Scriptures to find inspiration to give someone else. I read the latest books for ideas to grow our ministry and impact the lives of others. And I prayed for others to come to know Jesus more.
None of those things are bad, but I realized that day that I was doing far too many things for Jesus, and not enough of those things with Jesus. I needed some time with Jesus, just me and him, no other agenda, no one to share it with.
So if today’s thought does nothing more than simply give you permission to keep some of the things between you and Jesus to yourself, then so be it. I don’t think it’s selfish, I think it’s what happens in intimate relationships. Sometimes you share things that are only for you and the person you’re in relationship with.
So I pray that today you would simply enjoy Jesus, and treasure those sweet moments with him in your heart.
JOURNAL
Luke 2:18-19 NLT
I’ve always loved this picture of Mary. In my mind, I see her either holding Jesus, staring at him and getting lost in his eyes, or looking at him from a distance as others interact with him. There’s something sweet and intimate about her intentional holding on to certain moments in her heart.
Though I think that’s something all mothers do, there is something that God taught me on a plane trip once that I think ties into this same idea.
I don’t remember all the details of the trip, like where I was going or what I was going for, but I do know it was a cross-country flight, and it had been during a busy season of ministry. I was tired, a little burned out, but I’m sure another ministry opportunity was waiting for me when I got off the plane.
As the plane broke through the layer of clouds, I looked as the sun was coming up in the east. It was an early morning flight, so the colors that danced across the sky as the sun got more into view were spectacular.
As I watched out that window, I heard God speak to me. Immediately, I went to grab my journal so I could write down His words and my reflections. As a pastor, I often share most of my spiritual life with those I’ve been called to help lead. I was about three words into writing when all of a sudden, I stopped. I put down my pen. I looked back out the window. Then I clearly heard God say to me, “Paddy, this thought, this moment…this one is just between you and me. You don’t need to share this one.”
I can’t tell you how much those words meant to me. I had definitely fallen into the trap of simply living my spiritual life for others. I read the Scriptures to find inspiration to give someone else. I read the latest books for ideas to grow our ministry and impact the lives of others. And I prayed for others to come to know Jesus more.
None of those things are bad, but I realized that day that I was doing far too many things for Jesus, and not enough of those things with Jesus. I needed some time with Jesus, just me and him, no other agenda, no one to share it with.
So if today’s thought does nothing more than simply give you permission to keep some of the things between you and Jesus to yourself, then so be it. I don’t think it’s selfish, I think it’s what happens in intimate relationships. Sometimes you share things that are only for you and the person you’re in relationship with.
So I pray that today you would simply enjoy Jesus, and treasure those sweet moments with him in your heart.
JOURNAL
- What was the last time you had a meaningful moment with Jesus that you didn’t share with another person?
- What areas do you think God is working on in your heart right now, to make even more room for Him?
- What practices help you feel closer to God, more intimate with Him?
- Have you ever felt like you were doing a lot for Jesus but not with Jesus? What’s one thing you could do today to change that equation?
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