Prayer Closet Peace

I get up in the morning and the day starts busily.  Dishwasher to empty, cats to feed, laundry to start, litter box duty, pick up a few odds and ends.....and all this while I am waiting for that first, eye opening, delicious smelling cup of coffee to come out of the coffee maker.  It seems the days start fast and furious almost as soon as I drag my tired old (maybe not that old....it's all relative LOL) body out of bed.  I am not by any stretch of the imagination a morning person.  Oh thank goodness for that wonderful cup of coffee!!

But then, cup in hand I go to my quiet space with the God.  Prayer, study, fellowship, even this blog, it's all done stretched out on that same bed I dragged myself out of shortly before.  Something I've noticed lately is the sense of peace that descends when I walk back in that room to start my time with the Lord.  As I go to "visit" with my heavenly Father I find a quiet, comfortable, beautiful peace.  I love this!  I think what's happening is that as time goes on, as my relationship with Him develops and deepens, I am becoming more aware of His presence, and therefore His peace.  I have to credit this devotional "Jesus Calling" by Sarah Young as a tool God used in waking my mind up to think about His presence more.  The Lord has worked through that book, opening me up to the peace of just sitting with Him.

Each and every day, I look forward to this special tranquility at the feet of Jesus.  I'd love to bring it through my day...unfortunately that doesn't happen as often as I like....but it's a work in progress!!

I want to encourage you my friends, don't give up.  It's taken me many years to get to this point.  It's so worth the struggle, the hard work and perseverance.  You may not get this peace instantly on your first, second or even hundreth time. Everything, from stuff outside---noises, people, electronic interruptions, or in my case feline interruptions, to voices inside, problems, worries, guilt, to do lists (a big one for me)....will try to squeeze out this time and this feeling, this knowing you are with the Father.  But keep at it.  Continue to spend this time with Him, whether it feels fruitful and peaceful or like a complete wash...it's not, it's soil preparing, seed planting, sprout watering, looking forward to the harvest time.

Lord, thank You.  You have done great things for me!!  I am so thrilled with this development in our relationship.  I pray each of us gets closer and closer to You, knowing more and more how close we are to You.  Help me to take this knowledge with me throughout the day, I pray we all grow in this area.