A magnificent Occupation?

Welcome my friend! Come on in I have our cuppa’s ready.

It’s Spring Time here on the East coast of Australia so we’ll be sitting under our beautiful flowering Jacaranda tree today.

We have a canopy of lilac blossoms above us & a carpet of fallen lilac blossoms beneath. Such breathtaking beauty!

After last week’s Devonshire Tea I thought today we would be a little healthier, so with our cuppa’s we are having a slice of freshly baked low carb Almond, Date & Coconut health loaf, absolutely delicious!

You may be wondering what the magnificent Occupation is?

Well we are going to be exploring this today for we are all called to this most important of Occupations!

The Occupation

As you may be aware, if you join me here often, that over the past few years God has highlighted a Word for the Year for me to reflect upon throughout that year.

Last year it was the word Release & how it related to the ancient Jubilee Year .

I saw an amazing answer to a forty year prayer for two of my loved ones.

This year’s word for reflection has been Prayer. 

Earlier this year we reflected upon a Series on the Lord’s Prayer together in Hidden Treasures.

Which brought a fresh look at why Jesus taught the disciples & us to pray in this way.

And how Jesus highlighted the importance of prayer.

Which brings us to today’s reflection.

Is Prayer the most important of Occupations?

During the recent time of lockdown here on the East coast due to the Delta variant, I decided it was time to spring clean & reorganize my study/guest room.

Which meant relocating my books & bookcases to the opposite side of the room for more space.

And while giving the books an individual clean I came across a little book that I had completely forgotten I had on my shelf.

It’s a composite of Oswald Chambers comments & teachings interspersed with quotes from his various books.

I can’t remember where or who I got this little gem from but rediscovering it has been rather exciting & timely.

Simplicity

I have been enjoying it’s simplicity in its content & teaching.

In the introduction Oswald makes some poignant statements.

He talks about the occupation of every Christian is to pray. 

Yet we want to do & be far more for God! Which we see as more important!

Isn’t this just so true!

Oswald goes on to state that to Jesus prayer, which is communication with God the Father, was extremely important.

Jesus viewed it vastly different to what we do today! And Jesus lead us by example!

In fact it can be seen in the scriptures that communicating with His Heavenly Father was always in the forefront of Jesus thoughts.

Prayer is definitely a Holy Occupation

It’s one that opposes the fast paced hectic world we live in, it brings us into a time of communing with our Heavenly Father in eternal things.

A time that definitely needs us to practice & grow in The Art of Quietness.

If Prayer is a Holy Occupation

So, if Prayer is a holy occupation, then why don’t we have a fervour for it & many see it as a chore?

I believe because prayer has been seen as an add on to our lives rather than an integral part of life.

Let me explain that statement…

Haven’t you noticed that we can get so focused upon the daily things of this life that we often see our spiritual life as seperate.

But God tells us that our physical life & spiritual life are inherently interconnected when we accept Jesus Christ into our life;

“Do you not know that your body is the temple (the very sanctuary) of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you, Whom you have received [as a Gift] from God?”

1  Corinthians 6:19 Refer II

So, communing with our Heavenly Father as Jesus taught & demonstrated throughout His life is extremely important!

We are instructed that;

“…for we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads on our behalf…”

Romans 8:26 Refer II

This is done through our times of prayer with our Heavenly Father, as the Holy Spirit guides & directs us.

But we have to allow this process each day otherwise the things of this world will entirely consume our day!

For the Holy Spirit is the perfect gentleman,

He will not force anything upon us,

not even prayer!

How can we enter this wondrous Occupation?

Read HERE

Until next time,

Jennifer

You’re most welcome to join me in The Reading Nook

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© 2021 Jennifer M. Ross, teawithjennifer.blog, All Rights Reserved. Photo by Jonathan Borba on Pexels.com 

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