People

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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“And the people sought him and came to him,
and would have kept him from leaving them” (Luke 4:42)

People.

We can be so influenced by people.
Distracted, discouraged, deterred, and derailed by what they think,
what they say, and what they do.

People.

We want their approval, their affection,
their affirmation, and their attention.

People.

They want what they want.

People.

We love ’em.
We don’t love ’em.

Jesus sought to do only did His Father’s will.

Jesus listened to His Father, not to people.

John 4:34
My food is to do the will of him who sent me
and to accomplish his work. 

John 5:30
I can do nothing on my own.
…I seek not my own will
but the will of him who sent me.

TAKING GOD’S WORD TO HEART

As we hear all the voices around us,
as we feel the pressure of human wills,
as we sense the presence of their opinions,
the weight of their expectations,
we must stop.

Stop.

We must wait upon the Lord,
and listen to the Lord and His voice.

Listen.

John 10:3-5
 3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice,
and he calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out. 
4 When he puts forth all his own, he goes before them,
and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. 
5 And a stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him,
because they do not know the voice of strangers.

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 God, help me to listen to your voice only.
Help me to seek to please you only and not people.

In His hands for His glory,
Laurie

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A Special Place

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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Running to Jesus

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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