November 27, 2019
Sit Down and Be Quiet
Sharon Jaynes
Today’s Truth
“Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish”(John 6:11 NIV).
Friend to Friend
Have you ever noticed this pattern in the gospels: the disciples get in a bind and Jesus bails them out? Hmmm. Sounds a little bit about my life. How about you?
In John 6:1-15, we find the disciples in a precarious situation. Their lawn party had turned into quite a bash. The guests far exceeded their expectations, the disciples hadn’t planned on providing dinner, and it appeared the crowd was expecting refreshments. But the disciples didn’t have the funds or the food to feed them. All they could scrounge up were five loaves of bread and two dried fish. The crowd was getting restless, the disciples were getting anxious, and Jesus was getting ready. He took the five loaves and two fish and told the crowd to sit down—to be quiet.
Then He lifted the food toward heaven, blessed it, and commanded the disciples to hand out the provisions to those who were seated. He didn’t feed the people who were running around worrying – but the ones who were at rest. To those He gave immeasurably more than they could ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20), with twelve baskets left over.
When we trust God, we will haverest and peace in our lives. I want you to do something for me. Right now, I want you to use your imagination.
The Bible tells us in Ephesians that we are “in Christ” and Christ is “in us.” It also tells us that we are seated “in heavenly places” and “transferred to the kingdom of Christ.” Picture yourself sitting right beside Jesus under a spreading oak tree. Perhaps His arm is around your shoulder and your head is resting on his chest. You can feel the beating of His heart against your cheek and your head moves with the rise and fall of His breathing. With His other hand, He strokes your head and immediately knows how many hairs are on your head. His breath warms your skin as it brushes past your face. Imagine Him looking into your eyes and knowing your innermost being and meeting your gaze with a warm, affirming smile reassuring you of His love and care.
Now tell me, as you imagine yourself in the presence of Jesus, how anxious do you feel? How rejected do you feel? How worried are you about tomorrow?
You may be thinking, “Yes, Sharon. I feel at peace in that scene. But that’s not reality.” Dear sister, that is the greater reality. No matter what you are going through today, Jesus is right there with you. So maybe we just need to sit down and be quiet for a while.
Take a moment and still your soul. After you do so, leave a comment and let me know how you felt.
Let’s Pray
Dear Father, I’ll admit, sometimes I am so busy running around trying to solve my problems, I miss Your provision. Help me listen to You more closely and see Your provision more clearly. I don’t want to miss what You have for me today. Help me to sit down and be quiet—to rest in You.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
Is it difficult for you to sit down and be quiet with Jesus?
What keeps you from taking time to be still before Him?
Today, take at least ten minutes to be still with Jesus. No multi-tasking. No closing your eyes and worrying and calling it prayer. Don’t do this while driving the car or washing the dishes. Just you and Jesus. Give Him your full attention.
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Originally published Wednesday, 27 November 2019.
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