When they were alone, He explained all things to His disciples. —Mark 4:34
Our Solitude with Him. Jesus doesn’t take us aside and explain things to us all the time; He explains things to us as we are able to understand them. The lives of others are examples for us, but God requires us to examine our own souls. It is slow work— so slow that it takes God all of time and eternity to make a man or woman conform to His purpose. We can only be used by God after we allow Him to show us the deep, hidden areas of our own character. It is astounding how ignorant we are about ourselves! We don’t even recognize the envy, laziness, or pride within us when we see it. But Jesus will reveal to us everything we have held within ourselves before His grace began to work. How many of us have learned to look inwardly with courage?
We have to get rid of the idea that we understand ourselves. That is always the last bit of pride to go. The only One who understands us is God. The greatest curse in our spiritual life is pride. If we have ever had a glimpse of what we are like in the sight of God, we will never say, “Oh, I’m so unworthy.” We will understand that this goes without saying. But as long as there is any doubt that we are unworthy, God will continue to close us in until He gets us alone. Whenever there is any element of pride or conceit remaining, Jesus can’t teach us anything. He will allow us to experience heartbreak or the disappointment we feel when our intellectual pride is wounded. He will reveal numerous misplaced affections or desires— things over which we never thought He would have to get us alone. Many things are shown to us, often without effect. But when God gets us alone over them, they will be clear.
Journal DJR
Good Morning Lord,
I’ve had a few times where it seemed I was perfectly surrendered and connected with you… and then the rest of my life is more or less unsurrendered and disconnected. Not on purpose. It just comes naturally. I love it when surrender and connection are working. I can feel the love and the flow of life between us. It’s so wonderful… You would think I would want to live there all the time. And I do. But it doesn’t seem to work out. The cares and affairs of life seem to suck me into their vortex and before I know it, I’ve left that sweet presence that I was enjoying. What can be done to live in that place of connection more continuously?
Good question. Strive after it. It is the only thing to strive for. And you’ll know you are in that place when you have the peace that passes understanding. When I say strive, you may be called to violence. That may sound foreign to your concept of me but thats part of what I meant when I said,
From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence,[c] and men of violence take it by force. Matt 11:12
When you have a schedule that is too full, … too full for us, too full for me,…it’s time to be a “man of violence” and say “No” to some things that sound good and feel right. But if they rob you of our time together… you must choose. Our time together or the cares of the world and the pride of life.
There is more than just clearing your schedule. But that is a start. Then, when you are in “learning mode” I will teach you. Covet the quantity and quality of our time together like I do.
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