Becoming Like Jesus: Silence and SolitudeSample

A God Who Fights for Us

This week, you have met with the Creator of the universe. You have made space and the King of everything has filled that space. Let’s pause and think about that for a second—it’s a big deal! David, in one of his Psalms comes to the same realization and says: “What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?” Psalm 8:4 NIV. The overwhelming idea here is that God makes time for us. He pursues us, and hears us, and cares for us. When we draw near to God, He draws near to us. What a gift. Take a moment and thank God for speaking to you this week and let that gratitude strengthen your commitment to make space for God every day.

Pray…

Heavenly Father, thank you for caring for me. Jesus, thank you for coming for me and making a way for me to experience a relationship with God. Holy Spirit, thank you for being with me. I am committed to drawing near to you. Thank you for drawing near to me. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Read…

“The Lord is my strength and my defense;

he has become my salvation.

He is my God, and I will praise him,

my father’s God, and I will exalt him.

The Lord is a warrior;

the Lord is his name. Exodus 15:1-2 NIV

Consider…

This week we started in Exodus with God revealing Himself to a group of newly freed slaves. We are ending with that same group of rescued people. This passage comes right after God has parted a literal sea so His people could escape the pursuing Egyptian forces. Once everyone had safely crossed over, the water rushed back into place, eliminating the threat of the Egyptian army with finality. God was the Isrealites’ defender and guard. He protected them. He fought for them and, with finality, won their freedom. And the same God who went to battle for them, went to battle for us. Jesus took on the powers of sin, death, and hell, and with finality, defeated them and won our freedom. Instead of a sea splitting, this time a curtain in the temple split in two and the presence of God, who is the Light of Life, swallowed up the darkness. Our God fought for us, and through Jesus, we have overwhelming victory.

What’s something you already knew about God that you were reminded of this week?

What’s something new you discovered about the character and nature of God this week?

What’s your favorite thing you have learned up to this point about who God is? Why does that thing stick out to you?

Listen…

Set a timer for 5-10 minutes.

Lead into your listening by heading to your special place where you have been meeting with God all week. Acknowledge that that’s what it is, even if it’s just an ordinary chair or porch step—it’s a holy place because you and God have set it apart together.

Ask God to speak to you.

When you get distracted, come back to Jesus by praying a line or two from Exodus 15 out loud. Pick a verse that stands out to you and just repeat it a few times to help fix your focus.