“God finds ways to communicate with those who truly seek Him,” Christian author Philip Yancey wrote, “especially when we lower the volume of the surrounding static.” Nearly 300 years earlier, Isaac Newton made the same discovery, which he explained this way: “I can take my telescope and look millions of miles into space; but I can lay my telescope aside, go into my room and shut the door, and while in earnest prayer I see more of heaven and get closer to God than I can when assisted by all the telescopes … on earth.”
A quote from Virginia Brandt Berg takes that thought a step further: “When you come aside from temporal things which distract and harass you, and there in the presence of God you put your mind on the things of God, His majesty and glory, then the transforming power of God begins to work.”
That explains the who, when, why, and how of the transformation process, but transformed to what? That’s the best part! Paul tells us, “All of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.” 1
If that kind of quiet reflection can get that kind of results, then why don’t we do it more often? Most of the time, it’s due to the “surrounding static.” We’re distracted by our responsibilities and routines, the bustle of others around us, a constant barrage of information and entertainment, and our own thoughts. It’s also plain hard work to enter into God’s presence through prayer, especially when we haven’t made it a habit.
How can we make it a habit? Through sufficient motivation and consistent practice. What better time to start practicing than today?
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We … believe in a God who freely creates the world and sets it in order and adorns it with beauty, so that human minds may see the signs of his power and grace and loveliness in what he has made. [We] believe in a God who wishes to be known, since he has made human beings to find peace and joy in knowing him. [We] believe in a God who not only shows signs of his power in creation but also tells us what his will and purpose is for us: he shows us what kind of life we must lead in order to be at peace with him—a life of justice and truthfulness, mercy and self-control.—Rowan Williams (b. 1950)
- 2 Corinthians 3:18 NLT ↑