“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, whose thoughts are fixed on you!” (Isaiah 26:3) Memory Verse
I love the story about a young pastor who shares about the first time he pastored a church. It was a small church with lots of traditions. When Sunday arrived, the young pastor was excited about giving his first sermon. He stepped up to the pulpit to present his message, but instantly he was interrupted by an elderly woman who called out, “Turn on Jesus!” Surprised by the interruption, he thought to himself, “Maybe I don’t sound spiritual enough.” He deepened his voice and began again. The elderly woman called out a second time, “Turn on Jesus!” This time the shaken pastor paused and prayed for God to pour out the Holy Spirit, but the woman interrupted once more, “Turn on Jesus!” As he anxiously cleared his throat, shuffled his notes, and loosened his collar, one of the deacons approached the pulpit and whispered in the pastor’s ear explaining what the woman meant. Pointing to the picture of Jesus that hung on the wall behind the pulpit, the deacon explained the old tradition to the young pastor. Each Sunday, before the retired preacher spoke, he took the cord that hung from the picture and plugged it into the outlet, therefore, turning on Jesus.
How often do we forget or fail to take the time to plug into our source?
Practicing the Presence of God is easy when the first thing we do each day is plug into our source. And what a source it is! In Christ we have power to resist temptation. Doubt is replaced by faith and we have all the fruits of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, godliness and self-control. That’s only the beginning.
Our challenge today is to abide. Find a place where you can unplug from the world and plug into the resources of Christ. You want be disappointed.
For the comment section, share how you stay connected to God and how it brings peace to your heart.
Side Note: I’ll be having shoulder surgery tomorrow to fix a torn rotator cuff. I plan to post on Friday, but if that’s not the case, please hang in there. The doctor said I won’t be able to use my arm for a week or so. but, I plan to pre-post what I can.
Also, I love your faithfulness to study God’s Word allowing it to transform your life. Little by little as you apply what you’ve learned about having a faith stronger than your fear, you’ll experience more and more freedom. I love my sister’s in Christ!
Susan says
Will be praying for you Micca. Hope you have a speedy recovery.
Today I am on vacation and unplugging from the world as I look out at God’s creation, the ocean, listening to the rhythmic waves. Savoring my time with Him as I read His word.
At home I have a place in the bedroom where my Bible and study books are, it is a special corner. When I stay in God’s word is when I’m connected and leaning on Him, growing in Him, finding wisdom & truth.
Maria says
Praying for your surgery and recovery. I stay plugged into my source…Jesus, by plugging into during the morning and unplugging from TV shows in the evenings.
Mandy says
Micca .. Wow.. my husband had that done a few years ago.. I was the caregiver. Men are sometimes bigger babies, but it took him a few days to be able to get around some. Stay on top of the pain meds .. little tip for the day!
Will be praying for you and your family as you go through that.. that God will meet you in all that and you can rest and meditate on his word … and maybe rest and read a good book or watch a few chick flicks!
Every morning early I get up and grab my cup of coffee and sit in the my dining room and read and meditate and journal over God’s word. It’s dark and quiet and really the only time I can still my mind. I find that really reading and writing things down that I see in the scripture if the best way for me to see God .. in that word and in my life. It was not always that way for me..but it’s a sort of habit I’ve developed over the past 2-3 years and I feel lost when if I miss it! Thank you for your committment to this book and study … we love you and will be praying for you!
Carol says
Micca – Will be praying for you. I’ve been through it, hope all goes well for you. Make sure you do the PT afterwards, it will be painful but well worth it in the long run. Sounds similar to some of the things I’m going through now except this PT is more of the pain at the cross. 🙂
Judy King says
Praying for all to go well with your surgery and recovery. Loved your message this morning. I need to spend more time and effort in doing my morning ‘plug in with Jesus’. Thanks for the reminder!
Melissa says
Praying for a speedy recovery and that you actually stop and let others take care of you so you can heal. 🙂 Please don’t worry about us, while I love your posts I would rather know you took the time needed to heal and wait a little longer to get your Friday video! In this time of healing and rest God has blessed me with a lot of GOD TIME. I wake each morning and have a few devotionals by Beth Moore and Sarah Young and an ESV bible reading plan through YouVersion. I turn the phone on silent so God has the floor and I am not distracted. I then do this throughout the day and am reading a mountain of amazing Christian authors. I unplug from the world and let God work. Love you Micca. I pray you feel Jesus’ healing and comforting arms wrapped around you.
Holly says
Praying for no complications & a quick recovery, Micca. Don’t push yourself. Take time to rest, follow doctor’s orders, & take pain meds on schedule. You can start decreasing once pain settles down, but if you wait to take something until you are totally miserable, it doesn’t work as well.
I really do best if can have some quiet time in the Word & devotions (also have Beth Moore & Sarah Young) before starting my day. Didn’t this morning as opted to spend some time with the boys before they left for school since their dad is taking me home today. Already noticing a difference in my outlook having put it off until bedtime. Thankful my cousin got a personal call which he took outside so I could read this post before we leave. Did get to see my Grandmother. While hard to see her so unresponsive, was a blessing to be able to see her at all. Also while hard to be in different setting really enjoyed my time with my cousins (especially the boys & “puppies”).
Mary Singer Wick says
Your post yesterday and today greatly blessed me, Micca! My husband and I are in the middle of a big transition (job relocation); you have reminded me His grace is sufficient. Praying for your surgery. I dislocated my left shoulder three times and know the pain that comes with recovery! I narrowly avoided surgery. May the Father’s Hand guide the surgeon’s tomorrow and give you witness opportunties along the road to healing. Blessings, Mary
tonya says
I began reading my Bible and praying to God as a small, fearful, confused child. Many years and sorrows have taught me that He never leaves me. Even when I’ve left Him, He has remained faithful with unconditional love. The more I’ve grown to know Him the more I’ve fallen in love. He’s the very air I breathe. He’s constantly in my heart and on my mind. A counselor for every thought, a standard for every measure.
I love seeking God’s voice through Christian blogs and Bible Studies, like this one, Shannon Milholland’s “Jesus and my Orange Juice”, “Living Joel 2:25”, and the “Proverbs 31 ministries” devotionals . I enjoy gaining parts of God’s wisdom through the perspective of others through these and other tools like Christian books & biographies, Christian talk radio, music, movies, tv programs…etc. And those not neccessarily Christian but wholesome.
When I’ve gone through the fire and the deep waters, He’s been with me, carrying me, protecting me… and I know that nothing can ever seperate me from His deep love. As I abide in the shelter of His protective wings especially in those most painful valleys, I am blessed with His precious peace beyond understanding.
Thank you for your time Micca, I pray that your surgery and recovery go well and are blessed with God’s protective peace. Don’t try to rush things, you may need to slow down a bit, just follow God and trust His perfect pace for you in this time of healing.
tonya
Karen Smith says
I am not a young woman any more. My children are grown and have families of their own. I had a very successful 38 year career and 7 1/2 wonderful years at home raising my children. I have been in many inductive Bible Studies in the last 31 years. Now I am in a season of my life where I have time…….plenty of it. When I retired last year, I didn’t know what I would do with myself, but the Lord did. He told me to slow down and spend time with Him and with my husband. I am discipling two women in my church, working a little in the children’s ministry, helped with VBS in June and am a discussion leader for a Beth Moore study, so I have enough to do, but they are things instigated by God and not me. They refresh me, not weigh me down. My favorite time is when I am doing my Bible study. It is when I connect with God through His word and in prayer. I am loving this season of my life. My husband is enjoying having an un-frazzled wife. He always likes to hear about what we are learning in Bible study and has great insight he shares with me. I want to encourage young women to slow down and spend more time with God. I wish I had done it years ago. Your job, your home, your children, your relationship with your husband…….all are ever so important. But your time with God is the basis for all your tomorrows and for eternity. Invest the time sitting at His feet!
Karen