Spiritual Journey Thursday - Communion

Every Thursday, I explore different aspects of my spiritual journey, and I ask anyone else who would also like to write about their spiritual journeys to link up below.  I've learned so much from the posts of those who share their thoughts.

 

Mirriam-Webster.com defines COMMUNION as:

 

1:  an act or instance of sharing

 

2: capitalized a Christian sacrament in which consecrated bread and wine are consumed as memorials of Christ's death or as symbols for the realization of a spiritual union between Christ and communicant or as the body and blood of Christ 

b :  the act of receiving Communion

c capitalized :  the part of a Communion service in which the sacrament is received

 

3:  intimate fellowship or rapport :  communication

 

4:  a body of Christians having a common faith and discipline

 

I love how all of these definitions are about togetherness.  About spending time with God and one another, breaking bread - whether that be figuratively or literally.  I could write a post about any of these - I have some funny stories about church shopping and my daughters making mistakes during Communion because they didn't know the customs of the church (and we neglected to clue them in).  I could also write about #4 - I'm really enjoying this definition right now through a small group I'm hosting.  However, I'm going to talk about 3 today and how Jesus wants us to commune with Him.  How He wants a relationship with us.

 

I will admit it.  I am not good at setting aside a daily quiet time with God.  This is something I have started and stopped far too many times to mention.  I want to, and when I do, I know I am walking closer with Him and am pleasing Him.  But it does not come naturally yet.  I know I have to actively make this a commitment. So many things pull me away from it.  Some day I hope to celebrate the fact that I have achieved perfect fellowship with Him and communicate with Him all the time, the way we are instructed.  We can only know God's Word and know what He wants if we slow down and spend time with Him. 

 

Cheryl, one of the women I went to Czech Republic with this summer, gave everyone on the mission team a devotional called Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence by Sarah Young.  We spent time every day with this devotional while we were there.  It made a huge difference in how I was able to focus, stay energized, and feel purposeful.  I've tried hard to read it daily every day since.  Each devotion seems to have an uncanny way of "speaking" to me.  I know this is not Sarah's supernatural ability.  It's because every time we sit with Jesus and listen to Him, He knows our heart and wants to share His wisdom and love.  He speaks to every human ailment, want, desire, hurt, longing, and more in His Word.  Scripture after scripture addresses our needs, failings, and potential.  There have been times, when I'm paying attention, that God speaks to me - not anything audible - just a knowing, or a song lyric, or a word.  Why don't I sit and listen more often?!  He knows what I need, and if I listened more, I would know what He wants for me and from me.

 

So today, I will start, once again (I will get it right one of these days, won't I?) to stop, slow down, listen, commune.  My favorite scripture is Psalm 46:10 - "Be Still and Know That I am God."  Only in stillness can I know Him.