Thistlebend Quiet eMoment

by Laurie Aker

Focus Scripture: Luke 4:42-44 ESV

42 And when it was day,  
he departed and went into a desolate place.
And the people sought him and came to him,  
and would have kept him from leaving them,
43 but he said to them, “I must  preach the good news  
of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well;  
for I was sent for this purpose.” 
44 And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.
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When it was day, he left–he went away–
to a desolate place–a place void of inhabitants.
A place where He could be alone.

We need to go to a place were we can be alone.
A special place.
A place where we can meet with the Lord.

He wants you to meet with Him face to face in His Word,
by studying it, meditating on it, and memorizing it.

He also wants us to be on our face with Him in prayer.
Not just in the car on the way to work
where the guy in front of you can cut you off,
or your phone can ring,
or you can pass the store and remember
you need to pick up some shaving creme.

All alone. Just Him.
No one else.
No other thoughts.
You and the Lord.
In your room, in your prayer closet.

When are you all alone with the Lord?
A special time with Him and Him alone.
And not just outwardly, but in your heart,
in your soul, and in your mind.
When are you completely set apart to the Lord
with no distractions, no family, no sleep, no magazines?
Not alone with your cell phone, computer, iPod, or TV.
Alone with the Lord.

Jesus wants you to come to Him
and spend time with Him alone.
Now.
Every day.
Every week.
Every year.
Until one day we meet Him face to face
to spend eternity with Him.

TAKING GOD’S WORD TO HEART

Before you close your eyes today,
ask the Lord what heart time He wants you to
tithe and set apart for Him alone.

MEDITATE or MEMORIZE

Write out the following verse from Luke 4 and recite it 3 times.
Take it with you throughout the day.

42 And when it was day,  
he departed and went into a desolate place.

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, thank you that I can always come to you.
Please help me not to let distractions or even good things
get in the way of meeting alone with you.

In His hands for His glory,
Laurie
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Thistlebend Quiet eMoment

by Laurie Aker

Focus Scripture: Luke 4:38-41 ESV

 38 And he arose and left the synagogue and entered Simon’s house.
Now Simon’s mother-in-law was ill with a high fever,  
and they appealed to him on her behalf.  
39 And he stood over her and rebuked the fever,  
 and it left her, and immediately she rose and began to serve them.
40 Now when the sun was setting,  
all those who had any who were sick with various diseases  
brought them to him, and he laid his hands  
on every one of them and healed them.  
41 And demons also came out of many, crying,  
“You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them  
and would not allow them to speak,  
because they knew that he was the Christ.
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Simon appealed to Jesus on behalf of his mother-in-law.
Many were coming to Jesus,
all who were sick and with disease were brought to Him.
What do you need to bring to Jesus today?
What illness, what ailment, what loss?
Jesus wants you to run to Him.
No matter how many times you have come.
No matter how weak you feel.
You may even think that you should be strong enough
or faithful enough to go it alone,
but Jesus wants you to come to Him.
Come tired, weary, heavy laden, and poor.
Come to Jesus.
Run to Jesus!
Lay your burdens at His feet.

As thy hymn says:
“What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear.”
So often we feel that we should not bother Him
and yet that is exactly what He wants us to do.
We are to be weak and He is to be strong.

Remember these familiar words:

Matthew 11:28-30
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden,  
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me,  
for I am gentle and lowly in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

TAKING GOD’S WORD TO HEART

We try to bear it on our own.
We try to buck up and endure.
We try to push it aside.
But we are to come to you, Lord, and make our appeal to you.
Not only on our own behalf, but on the behalf of others.
Help us, Lord Jesus.
Help us.

Will you run first to Jesus?
Will you say the following words wholeheartedly,
by faith, believing that He will meet you right where you are?

“Help me, Lord Jesus.
Help me.”

MEDITATE or MEMORIZE

Write out the following verse from Luke 4 and recite it 3 times.
Take it with you throughout the day.

41 And demons also came out of many, crying,  
“You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them  
and would not allow them to speak,  
because they knew that he was the Christ.

PRAYER

Lord God, bring us to the point where we can fully understand
who you are and who you are in us.
Help us to rest in you.
Let us pour our hearts out to you
and receive the comfort and healing we need.

In His hands for His glory,
Laurie
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Thistlebend Quiet eMoment

by Laurie Aker

Focus Scripture: Luke 4:31-37 ESV

31 And he went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee.
And he was teaching them on the Sabbath,   
32 and they were astonished at his teaching, 
for his word possessed authority.   
33 And in the synagogue there was a man  
who had the spirit of an unclean demon,  
and he cried out with a loud voice, 
34 “Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?  
Have you come to destroy us? 
I know who you are– the Holy One of God.”   
35 But Jesus rebuked him, saying,
“Be silent and come out of him!”  
And when the demon had thrown him down in their midst,
he came out of him, having done him no harm.   
36 And they were all amazed and said to one another,  
“What is this word?  For with authority and power he commands
the unclean spirits, and they come out!”   
37 And reports about him went out into
every place in the surrounding region.
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“What is this word?” they asked.
Not only did this man Jesus possess authority in His teaching,
he had power over demons too.
This was amazing to the crowd.
They were impressed, they were all quite impressed.
But not forever, not for long.
Over the centuries man has witnessed many miracles–
supernatural events displaying God’s power and sovereign reign–
but seeing isn’t believing.
Only God can change a human heart.

For some this may seem like bad news,
but it is actually good news because God is able to change hearts.
When we sense apathy or indifference in our hearts
we can cry out to God to rescue us.
No matter where you find yourself in your walk with Him,
no matter how hard your heart may feel,
no matter how far you may have strayed,
no distance is too far.

This week’s passage is evidence of this.
He has power over all, even over demons.
If He can deliver from the devil,
He can deliver from unbelief, doubt, or double-mindedness.

John 14:13-14
13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do,
that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14  If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

TAKING GOD’S WORD TO HEART

Do not take for granted what the Lord has done
or what the Lord has done for you.
Take His Word to heart and ask Him to work in your life through it.
If you are weary, confess this
and ask Him to pick you up and carry you to Himself.
If you are unbelieving or have doubts,
confess and then ask Him to help your unbelief.
If you are only half-hearted in your love,
devotion, and commitment to Him,
confess and then ask Him to take your heart
and make it a fully committed and devoted heart,
so that you can love Him with your all.

James 4:4
You do not have, because you do not ask.

So ask.
Ask God to fan into a great flame
the gift of faith He has given to you.
Continue to ask, believing His promise
that if you ask anything in His name He will do it.
Look forward with great anticipation
for what He is going to do.
May He be glorified.

MEDITATE or MEMORIZE

Write out the following passage from Luke 4 and recite it 3 times.
Take it with you throughout the day.

35 But Jesus rebuked him, saying,
“Be silent and come out of him!”  
And when the demon had thrown him down in their midst,
he came out of him, having done him no harm.   
36 And they were all amazed and said to one another,  
“What is this word?  For with authority and power he commands
the unclean spirits, and they come out!”    

PRAYER

I am asking, Lord God, that you would change my heart.
Cut through the apathy and indifference.
Quench the doubt and unbelief.
Give me a love for you that is whole-hearted.

In His hands for His glory,
Laurie

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