Slow down and meet Jesus

I love the title of Bill Hybels' book Too Busy Not to Pray.

Prayer is essential in any believer's life - no matter how many things we have to do.  Jesus found prayer essential in his hectic, crowded, demanding life - so, shouldn't we?

Hybels devotes a chapter in his book to slowing down to pray.

He makes the obvious point that in our Western world, we are in such a rush that we have no time to be quiet before God.

"Authentic Christians are persons who stand apart from others, even other Christians, as though listening to a different drummer," says Hybels.

They are different "because authentic Christians have strong relationships with the Lord - relationships that are renewed every day."

"Any way you cut it, a key ingredient in authentic Christianity is time.  Not leftover time, not throwaway time, but quality time.  Time for contemplation, meditation and reflection.

Hybels describes his own routine for slowing down to meet Jesus:

• He begins his day by writing in a journal about what happened the previous day in his walk with Christ - the good and the bad;
• He then writes out prayers to God; and
• Finally, he listens to the voice of God as he becomes aware of the presence of God.

The value in doing this is that writing about what has happened helps slow down his racing mind and focus on God.

Writing out prayers is a step further, helping him formulate what he wants to say to the Lord.

And, finally, listening to the promptings of God helps him receive guidance from God.

It's a good way to slow down and meet Jesus.