15 Minutes With Jesus

 There is a holiday season coming. Let’s prepare. Let’s begin the next holiday season by becoming quiet. Let’s forget the busyness, the shopping and even the joyful gatherings.
 
We will dedicate the first fifteen minutes of everyday to the Lord Jesus, whose birth we celebrate each year.
 
Let’s shut out all the noise, not only the chattering, radio and television, but all the noise that goes on in our heads. We won’t list our goals for the day or plan what to have for dinner when Aunt Mildred arrives, and I won’t plan the grandchildren’s Christmas gifts or worry about paying the bills.
 
We’ll spend fifteen minutes sitting at Jesus’ feet paying full attention to what He has to say. We will imagine ourselves in a home in Bethany, 2000 years ago.  Just like Martha’s sister Mary, we will choose the better thing. ( Luke 38-42)
 
It isn’t easy finding this quiet time.  I have to wake up early - before anyone else and before the television is turned on. Sometimes I begin by reading from a devotional or directly from God’s true word to me - the Bible. I often have to start by asking Him to quiet the noise in my mind so that I can hear what He has to say.
 
Try it. This is the very best time of the day and will fuel the next 23 hours, if necessary.
After developing the habit of daily quiet time, you will receive an unexpected gift.  I think you will realize that Jesus is walking with you throughout the entire day.
 
There is a story in 1 Kings 19.
The prophet Elijah was told to stand on the mountain and that God would pass by. As he stood there, a hurricane force wind ripped through the mountains, but God was not in the wind. Next, an earthquake shook the ground, but God was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake there was a fire, but God was not in the fire. And after the fire, there came a gentle, quiet whisper and God spoke to him.
 
Quiet the hurricane and the wind and the earthquake in your life. Ignore the fire. Tune in to that still small voice—the gentle whisper.