Category: Faith & life

My solitary place

August 9, 2022

A number of places in the Bible we see that Jesus went off to a solitary place to pray. Mark 1:35 says He did it early in the morning. His desire was to go and be alone with His Father in heaven.

I have a few solitary places I go to be alone with God in prayer. The photo above is one of the places. It is up on a Peak that overlooks our town. Depending on which way I go to get there, it can take 15 minutes or 45 minutes to walk to it. One is steep and quick and the other one is slow and winding.

Sometimes I go to this place once a week and spend some time in prayer. This is usually in the cooler months of the year. At other times it is less often, but I go up there when I need space to hear from God, especially when I need wisdom (see James 1:5).

As it is up high I can see most of my town, farming land or a forrest depending on which way I look. Not only does it get me away from work, but it slows me down. It has a way of calming me and centring my mind on God. I find it easy to hear from Him in a solitary place like this.

Every time I go up the Peak I can see why Jesus did it. It has a way of stripping the external noise away and just making it about me and God, Him and me. Sometimes I pray. Sometimes I am quiet. Sometimes I just listen for an answer.

How about you? Have you got a solitary place you go to be with God? Do you have a Peak you go to? Or another place? If not, I wonder if that will help you to draw aside like Jesus did. For me, it really calms my mind and helps me to draw near to God.

Blessings,
Dave

God’s fingerprints in our lives

August 2, 2022

My wife and I were talking with someone recently about how God was active in our lives as kids or teens. We didn’t know Him or go to church then, but looking back we can see His fingerprints.

I can remember in grade three at school colouring in a cross in Scripture class. I was captivated by the cross and the thought that someone would die for me. It spoke to me in a way that I didn’t fully understand. Nearly 50 years later I still remember it.

Likewise, at school my wife was fascinated by a book in the library that had Bible stories with coloured pictures. She loaned the book so often that the librarian commented to her about it. She said she liked the book so much, but she didn’t know why.

There are many other memories of how God entered our lives and gently nudged us in His direction. He brought people and situations to us to be links in the chain to find Him. It really is amazing when you reflect on it. So many things seem like co-incidences, but are actually God-incidences He orchestrated.

How about you? Can you see the fingerprints of God when you look back? I think that is worth reflecting on today.

Blessings,
Dave

What are my spiritual gifts?

May 25, 2022

There are a number of ways to work out what our spiritual gifts are. We can do spiritual gift surveys which will help. Another way is to prayerfully ask yourself some questions.

Here are some you can start with…

  • What is the Holy Spirit telling me?
  • What is something I enjoy doing?
  • Am I fulfilled when I do it?
  • What do other people tell me I’m good at?
  • What have I done that has made a huge difference in someone’s life?

When we sit and ask these questions we can start to get a picture of what gifts God has given us. then we can start using our gifts for the good of others (1Peter 4:10).

Blessings
Dave