sister Carla

The still small voice of God reveals his gentleness in spite of how mighty and sovereign he is. It also shows how God is very understanding and knows how to deal with us based on our specific circumstances. God reminds Elijah that he is not alone which is how a life committed to God feels at times. However, we are assured by this text that we are NEVER alone. God uses this tone to comfort Elijah and let him know he (God) cares. The still small voice is what we often overlook especially when we are feeling discouraged. The text reminds us to be still and know that he is God.

What pattern do you see emerging in Jesus’ prayer life? Jesus always separated himself from the crowd to pray and be alone with his father. He would rise early in the morning as well to pray. Why do you think he spends Quiet Time with the Father before the day begins? There is nothing like the presence of the lord. Jesus had to seek God's guidance before commencing his day as this would equip him for his task ahead. There was less distractions around at this time which gives him better time to communicate freely with God. He needed direction as he was strictly about the father's business so whatever direction God told him to take, he would walk in total obedience. How does this prepare him for his ministry? Though Jesus is God in the flesh, he needed to seek his direction before preparing for mission as this allowed him to completely walk in God's will. He needed to know what his father has to say so he can be full equipped for his tasks ahead as he operated not of himself. Maintaining a good relationship with God also helped him to grow stronger spiritually. Jesus has set this example for us therefore we need to first seek God in every matter, though small or great so he can lead us where he pleases before we attempt to operate in his name or carry out any form of ministry. How did the disciple desires for Jesus differ from what Jesus felt impelled to do? (Mark 1:37-38) Why? Jesus was on a Mission by the father and that is to spread the gospel but the disciples wanted to see miracles performed by Jesus Christ. They did not realise that what they see is a result of Jesus spending quality with God, praying, fasting and continuously obeying his will. Jesus lead by example but the the disciples lacked the faith to do as Jesus in numerous cases because they failed to adopt his principles. Do you have a Quiet Time? yes, my quest time is mostly on my lunch break which is one hour every day but this never seem enough. Sometimes I rise early in the morning also to study the word and pray. What could you do to improve the quality of your time with God each day? I prefer in the morning when my mind is fresh and this also helps to prevent me from forgetting to do so throughout the day as we can be bombarded ever so often by the cares of this life. Therefore, I can take the initiative to sleep early and rise early. However with all the activities during the week at church, going to bed early sometimes is a challenge. However, it is imperative that I minimise some of the weekly activities as best as I can to spend time with God and read his word. It is good to get involved but I find as Christians we over do it at times and most times this is not pleasing to God. Adding to the fact that I am a mother of one, I have to prioritise because I do not want to compromise or put a strain on my relationship with God. Spending quality time with him even in silence so I can hear what he has to say is imperative to my christian journey.