Over the past month (and if Im really honest, the past few months) I have grown distant in my walk with God. Between work, seminary, and family I have let the busyness of life envelope me and have focused on the many tasks I must get done. In the few moments that time has allowed Ive let myself relax, but never intentionally committed any time to God. This isnt to say that I havent prayed or talked with God, because I have (and I have continued to pray every night with my kids). Ive even prayed most mornings that God would fill me and use me that day. But I havent always completely meant it; I havent delved into the Scriptures beyond what was needed for school; I havent sat in silence to listen to the Holy Spirit speak; I havent allowed myself to fully feel the presence of God.

So I decided to do something about that. This week I began working through Richard Fosters book Celebration of Discipline. My plan is to read a chapter of that book each week, then focus on that particular discipline that week. Along with that my goal is also to focus on a single chapter of the Bible each week, reading it every day (something suggested by Rev. Scott Chrostek in the recent Wednesday Night series Resolutions).

On Monday I began that process. The focused discipline of this week is meditation, a perfect start to encountering the presence of God. As I prepared to begin, sitting in my office and flipping my Bible to Romans 12, my daughter walked in. She took notice of my posture and said, Daddy, are you praying? I kindly said, Yes, and she smiled at me, turned, and skipped away. I read through that chapter twice, highlighting what stood out to me.

The moment I set the Bible down to begin in meditation my daughter walked in again. I smiled and asked her what she needed. Her answer instantly melted my heart: I wanted to pray with you, Daddy. So she sat there, next to me, as I held her and we prayed together for several minutes. When I said Amen she got up and skipped back out.

Heres what I realized in this wonderfully beautiful moment. For the last few months God has been inviting me into his presence--because he never stops inviting us. I have just been reluctant to say yes. And when on this day I came, ready and fully willing to accept Gods invitation, the Holy Spirit came to me, entering my room through my young daughter's small frame. And there he sat with me as we prayed together, my daughter in my arms, and I in his arms. This, to me, was a beautiful image of the relationship God invites us to. In this time of loneliness, God has always invited us in and will always be with us.

Originally posted here:

Christian community went on after Jesus' ascension - Leawood - Church of the Resurrection