A Moment To Pause
Earlier this week, I found myself renewed with motivation to take a moment to pause. It all started after a Friday night Bible study, where we discussed Philippians chapter 4. In verse 4, it says that we are to rejoice always and let our thoughts dwell on lovely, pure, and good things. We are encouraged not to be anxious but to respond with prayer and supplication. Afterwards, we all went around talking about how we could put this lesson into practice.
When it came to my turn, I recalled the verse about rejoicing always. I realized it wasn't just about praising God at church but also in the day-to-day moments. I saw these verses as God urging me not only to approach Him in need but also to desire Him.
I think about Psalm 61:1, “A Psalm of David when he was in the wilderness of Judah. O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water.” Even though David had many needs, he desired God more than those needs. While those needs were crucial, God was even more essential. David understood what Matthew 6:8 says, “For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.” David trusted that God was his foremost necessity, and then God would provide for the rest. This same trust and desire were what I felt when reading those verses that Friday night.
To apply this practically, I had to recognize that in my daily life, there were many dopamine sinkholes. From scrolling on my phone to eating desserts, there were many moments where I sought joy in things other than God. God was showing me through these verses that He didn’t want me just to need Him but also to want Him, as David did. It was easy for me to turn to God in times of hardship or trial, but I realized I wasn’t seeking God first in moments of rest and relaxation. That week, I actively tried to take a moment of pause and instead seek God first. It was not easy because habits are hard to break. Sometimes, breaking a habit requires creating an entirely new environment.
Some practices that I’ve adopted include immersing myself in God’s space. This could be a Bible study, prayer group, or even preparing for a worship service. I find that when I’m in those environments, thoughts that are lovely, pure, and of good report come naturally. Not only that, but I find joy in them, and they do not feel burdensome. I hope to continue this practice and that you, as the reader, can find inspiration in the Word of God and the experience that I had this week. Challenge yourself to take a moment of pause and seek the spaces where you can desire God.