When Jesus rose from the dead, whom did he reveal himself to first?
Mary Magdalene.
Why her?
Because she was there.Because she loved him enough to go in search of him, in sheer love, with nothing to gain from the encounter.
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And why was Isaiah granted his precious vision of the Lord, seated on a throne, high and exalted, with the train of his robe, filling the temple, surrounded by winged seraphs flying and calling to one another, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord Almighty, The whole earth is full of his glory.” Because he chose to be quiet and still long enough to see the vision. To overhear the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send?” And so he volunteers, “Here I am. Send me.”
* * *
Those who hang out with God are more likely to hear and overhear what He is saying. To somehow see God’s perfect plan for their lives. To catch his vision and hear his directions. To get in on the secrets of the universe!
colin says
June 7, 2014 at 12:52 pmI really enjoy your entries. This one is so valuable for those among us who don’t necessarily get healed of whatever it is we are suffering with. More and more I seem to get the sense that the real object of prayer is in your words to ” hang out with God”. Just spending time in that way fills us anew with his spirit to the point that is doesn’t matter if we are healed of a physical infirmity, or an emotional pain. We gain strength by simply being with God. I also enjoy reading the comments from other people, shows me more of the picture than I manage to pick up on.
Thank you
Anita Mathias says
June 8, 2014 at 6:48 pmYes, I love that aspect of prayer, just hanging out. I do set a timer, because I like consistency, but sometimes time feels suspended, and nothing much seems to happen, no wrestling or revelation, yet when the timer goes, it is a wrench to leave the place of prayer. I have been ministered to, and somehow am different.
My spiritual life is a bit like weight-lifting. Times of challenge and growth, and times of rest, when it seems as if God just lavishes his love on me!
John MacArthur says
June 7, 2014 at 7:29 amNo. God doesn’t have favourites, in the sense that we have preferences – it’s only our unregenerate nature that gets resentful and upset when one of us seems to receive more grace, more wisdom more authority than another. It’s always seemed to me – to borrow a metaphor from physics- that when the cosmic frequency of his will is momentarily in perfect synchrony with our own, a huge surge of transfer of energy can take place, blessing and anointing is mighty, thoughts and plans are momentarily crystal-clear. Some people simply spend more time seeking out the right frequencies – hanging out, if you like.
Anita Mathias says
June 8, 2014 at 6:35 pm“when the cosmic frequency of his will is momentarily in perfect synchrony with our own, a huge surge of transfer of energy can take place, blessing and anointing is mighty, thoughts and plans are momentarily crystal-clear.”
Love this. This is exactly the connection I seek–but just achieve now and again. I think repentance is a pathway there. And desperation. All my life-changing decisions (applying to Oxford; whom to marry; what business to establish and how to establish a scalable, passive income one; to become a writer; to take up blogging) have been made in that place. How amazing it must be to always live in it!
Elizabeth Jones says
June 6, 2014 at 6:05 pmWow! If I hang out with Jesus, too, the same thing might happen to me!
Interesting thoughts–our two minds running on similar tracks, I see. In my devotions and prayer time this morning, I was praying about John 14:16-20, focusing on God _dwelling with me_. (Wow! Yikes!) My first thought was Isaiah in the Temple! On my face, double quick! But then, I reflected. My thoughts shifted, and I switched to Hosea 11. I saw myself as a toddler, and God scooping me up, holding me to God’s breast. Cuddling with God. (!!!!) And especially right now, when I have a cold and am not feeling 100 percent. Thanks, Anita! @chaplaineliza
Feeling like Eeyore? Oh, bother! (Be kind anyway.) http://wp.me/p4cOf8-al
Anita Mathias says
June 8, 2014 at 6:30 pm“God scooping me up, holding me to God’s breast.” Yes, I too see myself as leaning against God. Thanks much for commenting, Elizabeth! Read yours too. A manicure–how lovely!