Hello fellow MK’s!
My name is Amanda Brown (aka brownie) and I’m going to tell you a little bit about myself and what I’ve been learning. Like most of you, I am in college and sometimes that can get stressful, busy, and free time is only a dream. One of the ways I like to de-stress myself at the end of a long day is to sit with a friend and talk, listen to them talk about their life, and then have them listen to me share what’s going on with me. Often this will take place into the wee hours of the night (all my roommates will tell you I’m a night owl). But, while this time of sharing with a friend is important, often times I don’t share such a close friendship with God.
I sat down this semester with a very wise professor of mine and ended up telling him about my struggle many times to feel close to God. I pray, go to church, and read my Bible. But still often I feel like God is not close and personal to me. My professor started by asking me about my friendships. How do I feel close to my friends? Usually I feel close to my friends when there is mutual sharing. Listening and talking. I realized that my relationship with Jesus is very unhealthy. I talk to him, but I don’t listen very often. It’s a one sided friendship.
Since that conversation in my professor’s office, I have begun to feel closer to God. Why? Because I am learning to listen and not just talk. Taking time out of my schedule to sit and listen for what God has to say to me. Often I try to sit down and ask God to show me what he wants to for the day. I try to keep my mind clear from all the other thoughts that come into my head and focus on the stillness and quiet time I am getting with God. This takes more than just 5 minutes in the morning as I run to classes. It also takes focused attention, which for me requires quiet and no other distractions around me. Sometimes I will spend hours sitting with my Bible open, ready to hear from God, ready to talk to God and to listen to him.
So all this said, it is my hope that each of you will take some time away from all the activities, work, and even friends to spend it with Jesus. Listen! Focus on what God wants to say to you, not a list of all the things you can say to him. As with any friendship, you will never get to know Jesus if you don’t spend time with him. Quality time that involves effort and an open willing heart and free time in your schedule. So, take an afternoon to listen, with no agenda before God, allow him to speak to you. I know life gets crazy insanely busy, but just as you would take time away to be with a good friend who came to visit, take time to be with Jesus (John 10:27).
Amanda