"Encourage each other daily, while it is still today." -Hebrews 3:13

Wednesday, April 20, 2022

Look for Me

 


  “Then the disciples returned home. But Mary (of Magdala) stayed outside the tomb weeping.”

 --John 20:10-11 

Mary couldn’t leave; she stayed there alone, weeping with grief. Something, or Someone, was tugging at her heart. As she wept, she peered into the tomb, searching. She saw two angels sitting where the body of Jesus had been. Then the risen Lord greeted her, allowing her to be the first person to see Him after He rose from the dead (see John 20:11-18).

Our Lord wants us to search for Him, too. Sometimes, we look outside ourselves and find Him in the people and circumstances around us. Look for Him in the new employee humbly trying to learn the ropes. Look for His smile in puppies and kittens. Draw on His patience in slow traffic. Seek His wisdom to guide you in your work. Soak in His peace when the baby’s sleeping, and lean on His calming presence when she’s crying.

Other times, we stop and let Jesus come to us. How? Give Him ten minutes of your day. Find a quiet place – a room in your home, an empty church, your back yard, or even your parked car -- and silence your phone. Start by thanking Him for this time you’ll get to spend with Him. Then, pick a short passage in the Bible and read it slowly and attentively. (The Gospels are a good place to start.) You might want to read it more than once. Notice what strikes you as you read. Next, sit still and think about what you’ve just read; the ideas that come to mind may be Him trying to tell you something. You may want to jot down your ideas. Finally, thank Him again and ask Him to stay with you and guide you as you go about the rest of your day.

Imagine Him saying to you:

“Stay and look for Me, like Mary did. Don’t be in such a hurry to get back to your routine, like the apostles did. Stop for a few moments and you’ll be rewarded. Tell Me what’s on your mind. Then, be still and wait. Sometimes you’ll get answers, and sometimes you’ll get only quiet. The quiet is holy when you spend it with Me. I’m working in your heart even when you feel nothing or get no apparent answers. I want to spend time with you. I love seeing you wanting to spend time with Me. Go deeper. Let Me reach into your heart. I want you to experience My love for you. Look for Me, and you’ll find Me. Listen, and you’ll hear Me. Open your heart to Me and let Me fill it. Be at peace. I love you.”

“Lord, let me find You.”

Thank you for reading my reflection. © 2022 Gina Bedell     Comments are always welcome! Feel free to share it with your friends by clicking on one of the icons below. Thanks!

 p.s.

We continue to pray for an end to the war. If you’d like to help the people of Ukraine through the Cleveland Maidan Association, you may use either PayPal or a credit/debit card here:

https://www.paypal.com/donate/...

 

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