“Earlier this morning in my journaling time,” Stan mentioned one morning, “I was focusing on something I’d like to pass on to you.”
“Okay,” I replied. “I’m all ears. Whatcha got for me?”
“Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane,” Stan said, “and what He did is a lesson for me, you, and the rest of us who want to be where God knows we need to be.”
“Jesus did a lot of things in the garden. What were you focusing on?”
“How He went beyond where He was to spend time with His Father,” Stan replied. “He did that while what the disciples did is more like how I am too much of the time.”
“What’d the disciples do?”
“They slept!” Stan said with a laugh. “While Jesus went beyond where He and they were, they stayed there and slept. Jesus went beyond them to spend intimate time with His Father.”
“It seems to me,” he continued, “the lesson is that I’m to go beyond where I am to be where God knows I need to be with Him!”
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Bible verses to consider:
And He went a little beyond them, and fell to the ground, and began praying that it were possible, the hour might pass Him by. And He was saying, “Abba! Father! All things are possible for Thee; remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what Thou wilt.” And He came and found them sleeping, . . . . Mark 14:35-37.
And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, . . . . Matthew 26:39.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for giving Jesus and His finished work on the cross as the way to life eternally with you, the life that begins here and will continue forever. Even though I know I will spend eternity in your presence, I confess that too often while I remain on this side of eternity I don’t go beyond where I am to spend time with you to find out what you know I need to be who, what, and where you intend. Please forgive that foolishness. Help me follow every step of your lead in going beyond where I am to where you know I need to be. Thank you that I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: Are you where you need to be to have life eternally with God, the life that begins here and will continue forever? If no, why do you choose to remain separated from God both now and forever? If you are a Christian with the assurance of salvation and redemption, how are you doing with going beyond where you are to where God knows you need to be? If you sense the desire for change with any of this, how is that change going to happen? Is that what you truly want? Why or why not?
The need: Since God knows what we need before we ask Him (Matthew 6:8), what does He know you need to go beyond where you are to where He intends for you to be? Spend time on this in prayer, reflection, and journaling to see what God knows you need. He will show you!
Forward: Do you know others who would or could benefit from this devotional? If so, why not forward it and open them to be part of the conversation between Stan and S. Tory Teller?