I attended a small staff prayer event this past week, and the pastor leading had us take six minutes of silence before we started corporate prayer.
He encouraged us not to start spouting out prayer requests (whether out loud or in our minds) during this time, but instead to quiet our hearts and simply bask in the reality that God is with us.
I can honestly say it was my favorite six minutes of the past week.
I felt God’s presence in a way I hadn’t felt in a while.
I’ve allowed my heart and mind to get too busy. Even recent prayer times—meaningful as they’ve been—have been so full of my own words that I haven’t truly allowed my soul to breathe. To listen. To collapse into the simple relief that God is with me.
This can be a common trap during the holidays. It’s so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle—trips to make, events to attend, gifts to wrap, meals to prepare, family to visit. It can feel like an all-out sprint to get the to-do list finished before the clock strikes midnight on Christmas Day.
Meanwhile, in the few spare moments, it can be tempting to numb our minds scrolling or staring at a screen. Yet true, soul-level refreshment eludes us. Before we know it, Christmas has passed, and we’re back on the hamster wheel of New Year’s and beyond.
Yet, if we can slow down and quiet our hearts enough—even for a few minutes—we might hear God whispering the message of Christmas: I am with you. And I love you.
Do you hear God speaking these words over you today?
I encourage you, between now and Christmas—maybe once, maybe each day—to set aside six minutes to simply sit in silence before God.
Close your eyes. Quiet your heart. Feel his arms of love around you.
Hear him say, I am with you.
Hear him say, I love you.
Let your heart adore him, as he adores you.
Grateful for you!
~Blake
P.S. HERE is a Christmas sermon I got to preach last Sunday. 🙂
P.S #2 HERE is a five-day Christmas devotional I wrote for Life Bible. 🎄
I pray the Lord blesses you through these resources!
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Blake Glosson (MDiv, Reformed Theological Seminary) is an assistant campus pastor at Chapelstreet Church in Geneva, Illinois. He has been published and/or republished or referred by:
- The Gospel Coalition
- Life Bible
- Crosswalk
- Eternal Perspective Ministries (Randy Alcorn)
- Challies.com/Tim Challies (here, here, here, and here)
- Moody Radio (here, here, and here)
- The JOY FM (here and here)
- DashHouse/Darryl Dash (here and here)
- The Aquila Report (here, here, and here)
- ChurchLeaders.com
- Monergism.com
Previously, Blake served as the director of young adults at New Covenant Bible Church in St. Charles, Illinois.
Watch “The Promise of Emmanuel” here.
Watch “The Power of Emmanuel” here.
Read “Why Does God Say No to Good Things?” here.
Read or watch “How to Not Get Burned by the Fire of Nostalgia” here.
Watch or listen to more of Blake’s sermons here.
Feel free to drop a comment or question below!