Time Out!

Ever wondered what "staying prayed up" actually gets you? Read further and find out!

Lately, I've been reflecting a lot on my early days as a believer. Specifically Looking back on my days in undergrad. In both my freshman and sophomore years, I was miserable in every way. I had little to no friends, I was battling racial tension, had no church I really felt a part of, and I missed out on family moments back home. I remember feeling so abandoned and lost that I can genuinely say I was broken in spirit. In those long and lonely days, I was constantly in tears before the Lord as I prayed about my school environment and my purpose through my selected majors (I was set to double major in Music Business & Entrepreneurship). In those times, God was the only person I had that I could be raw and honest with. Psalm 51:17 (TPT) says: "You will not despise my tenderness as I humbly bow down at your feet." I didn't conceptually understand this scripture at the time, but looking back, I believe some part of me understood this truth in my heart, which is why I rarely hesitated to throw myself before God in prayer.

If you had asked me then if I believed I would be okay, that I would be able to find purpose, joy, or a supportive community, I would've told you that there's no way this gets better. There's no way I would find the satisfaction I was looking for. I would have said to you that maybe post-graduation would bring some relief, but not college because I'd already been through two challenging years, so it is what it is. Along with the struggles I had at school, I was also struggling spiritually. I was in constant distrust that God even cared about my situation. I often thought that I was nagging Him or being melodramatic. But in hindsight, When I look back at those moments now, I laugh at how faithful God has been to me. God taught me about who He is as a Father and the plans/feelings He has towards me. The Lord kept me so well in that season of undergrad, and It's only now that I'm able to clearly see what the secret weapon was to my survival: prayer. Constant, honest, short, long, quiet, and loud prayer. I was on an emotional roller coaster in those days, but the one place I always found myself, no matter how frustrated I might've been, was in prayer. And it's only now that I read back through my prayer journal that I see that God was teaching me so much. At the time, it felt like little drops of nothing, but God was revealing and imparting so much wisdom that I had no idea I would need for the long run.

In this time of this pandemic, we've all found ourselves in some form of isolation, and it doesn't matter whether you're an introvert or an extrovert, at some point in this global moment, you've found yourself frustrated, unsure, and worried. Although things are opening back up, and we are desperate to start getting back together with people. I want to urge you to hold fast to some sort of isolation. As you've read in my previous posts, "You're Getting Fat," I am convinced that God wants to show us profound spiritual realities about ourselves and the world at this time (1 Corinthians 2:13). He wants to reveal things to you that will prepare you for the future things He's planned just for you.

Sounds great, right? But I know this is easier said than done. The journey toward hearing God and receiving revelation can be frustrating. I recall many moments when I would come to prayer furious with God that I didn't have clarity about my purpose and that even in all my efforts to" pray it out," the Lord's voice seemed to fall deaf on my ears. Then one day, I clearly heard God say to me, "what do I gain out of your confusion?" and I paused. I was wrecked. At that moment, God's love was revealed, and my heart towards Him began to shift from anger to gratitude. For once, I firmly believed that God is not a God of games. In all my frustration and desire for wisdom or clarity, God is not laughing at me in my distress. He's not withholding revelation because He just can. It's literally the exact opposite. He desires for us to have wisdom (James 1:5) and knowledge (Hosea 4:6) about who He is and what He's doing in our lives, and the best part of it all is that He gives it to us generously!!!!

Then one day, I clearly heard God say to me, "what do I gain out of your confusion?" and I paused. I was wrecked.

So once I received that truth, God began to teach me more about what happens next. The purpose of revelation - a divine disclosure of God's word and His plan, is to preserve our spirits and keep us in good spiritual health as we go through different trials and experiences. Revelation allows us to stay in step with the spirit (Galatians 5:25). God wants us to grow up in a way that will strengthen us for the long term. He wants to teach us how to bear fruit in all seasons, like the tree planted in Psalm 1:3. He does not want this season to destroy us or throw us off our game. The Bible says that God works all things together for the good of those who love the Lord (Romans 8:28). And my question is, in what ways are you making sure that God has space in your life to "work it" out? How are you giving Him permission to work it out? If prayer isn't one of the ways you give him room, I want to urge you to make it your first method.

Prayer is the only thing that is really able to ground us. Trees have to be planted before they can grow, and a consistent prayer life is how we dig those roots and make space for God to move as He sees fit. God is dishing out so much grace and wisdom in this season because He really wants to see you win. Don't delay what He's trying to do because you lack the discipline and desire to pray. You can begin to prioritize prayer when you change your perceptions about it. At times, prayer can seem like this routine daily objective or some big lofty mystical experience, which is why committing to it is often difficult. However, think about it as a much needed "Time Out." As children, our parents would tell us to go to time out when things start getting crazy around us, or our moods become "stank." Back then, 'Time Out' seemed like a punishment, but in reality, it was really an opportunity to sit down and reflect on our feelings and understand how external things were affecting our behavior.

I believe God is calling us to establish the practice of 'Time Out' throughout the rest of 2020 and into the seasons to come. He desires us to use prayer as our 'Time Out' period so that we may be satisfied and find fulfillment even when the world is chaotic and has very little to give us. Therefore hold fast to isolation and use it as an opportunity to take time out to pray and root yourself.

These moments of personal prayer logistically can look like anything you desire. Prayer time or "quiet time" with the Lord is your time and space to express what's in your heart to God in ANY WAY you can imagine. It's not supposed to look like everyone else's. It only has to work for you and God, no one else, so get creative! Think of the ways in which you best communicate with your friends and family. You can try those same methods with God. If that's going out to eat, take your Bible and journal with you to an outdoor restaurant and see what God says (Rev 3:20). If that's taking a run while listening to gospel music, then go for it. The possibilities are genuinely limitless. As long as you take the time out, you will witness God bring you through and towards things you never thought you'd survive or see done.

So, even as life seems to speed up, can you recommit to prioritizing God? As Acts 3:19 testifies, there is a refreshing that comes when in the presence of the Lord. That being said, friends allow Him to continue to refresh you towards glory. Restart your journey to a flourishing prayer life today, and find the satisfaction, protection, and revelation you've been seeking. It awaits you in the secret place!