Pastor's Corner

Don't Limit God

(2 Timothy 1:7)

Evangelist Billy Walker told a story about the city fathers of New York as they contemplated the future growth of the city. They laid out the streets and numbered them from the center outward. When they began, there were only six or seven streets in all New York. In their planning maps, they projected how large they thought the city might grow.

Reaching beyond their wildest imagination, they drew streets on the map all the way out to 19th street. They named it " Boundary Street" because they were sure that's all the larger New York City would become. But history has proven them to be shortsighted. At the last count, the city had reached 284th Street ..... far exceeding their expectation.

We, like those city planners, sometimes limit our spiritual expectations. We accomplish very little for God and for one another because we set limits on God's power to work through us. We are very often held back in fear to either witness or trust God to meet our needs.

The Summer holiday season is upon us, and many of us will be traveling to visit family and friends far and near or may just be going to the cottage for relaxation. Whatever we do just remember as Isaiah writes “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” God will recharge your batteries, too, if you make seclusion a daily habit. I leave you a few ideas on how you can do so:

Give yourself permission to enjoy a daily time of seclusion. Realize that seclusion is a vital habit to have in order to gain the perspective, clarity, and peace God wants for you. Recognize that God designed life’s natural rhythms to include times of aloneness as well as relationships, and times of silence as well as sound. Trust that, in your time of seclusion, God will strengthen you to deal more effectively with every person and situation in your life.

Choose a specific time and place for seclusion. Realize that if you don’t schedule a daily appointment for seclusion, the shouts of urgent tasks will overpower the whispers of important ones. Choose a time of day that works best for you best. Plan to spend a set amount of time – even if only a few minutes – in solitude and quiet time with God.

Break away from distractions. Don’t compromise your seclusion by carrying your cell phone with you, answering the doorbell if it rings, or sneaking a peek at your “to-do” list or a newspaper. Make a conscious effort to break away from all distractions. Ask God to help you break free of your daily pressures and quiet your spirit.

Bring vital supplies. Take a copy of the Bible, a notebook, and a pen with you. Have a particular Scripture passage in mind to read and meditate on during your time of seclusion. As you pray about it and other topics, ask God to speak to you, and write down the insights you receive.

Be honest. If people ask where you’re going when you break away for seclusion, don’t be ashamed to tell them the truth. Simply say you need some time to think and pray about things. They will likely respect your decision.

Be patient. Expect it to take at least a few moments for echoes of the world’s pressures and noise to stop reverberating in your mind. Relax and sit still. Listen to the silence around you. Anticipate hearing God’s voice speaking to you when the time is right

Do it when you need it. Whenever you’re facing a particularly stressful situation and feel the need for some time in seclusion, make time for it however you can. Just excuse yourself and pull away so you can return in greater strength later. Make use of the downtime stuffed into the pockets of your day by turning it into extra seclusion time.

Reengage with enthusiasm. After withdrawing for your times of seclusion, be enthusiastic as you reengage with people and activities. Celebrate your newfound peace, strength, and clarity. Thank God for the gifts He has given you during the times you’ve accepted His invitation to “come away” with Him.

We shrink back from taking a step of faith, that God will make a way even in the most difficult situation. Let us refrain from being shortsighted in our concept of God and his power to change lives and make ways when then there is no way.

As we gear up in preparation for the 80th year of ministry at St. Ansgar Lutheran Church on October 14, we have a lot to be thankful as many people have been blessed and nurtured through your personal touch, and through the Word, and Sacrament. May each and everyone of us find contentment in the little that we have been blessed with

Let us stop dreaming only little dreams and start expanding the dreams of the founding mothers and fathers of this congregation, and our own horizons. We will never reach new potentials heights if we set limits on God. My life is yours to use and to fill. God richly bless you all

Sincerely in Christ,

Pastor Samuel King-Kabu

Web Page prepared by:
Roger Kenner & Jette Blair.
Content-New Topics Last Updated: 2007/07/18
St. Ansgar's Lutheran Church - Montreal