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Quiet Time
by Kasia Kedzia
The New Year invokes reflection for me. Reflection can be bitter-sweet. As I look back on my year I have both sad and happy memories. The people in my life today are not all the same as those who were there a year ago. There are people who have fallen in love, gotten married, received promotions, gotten to know God and become disciples. For each of those people there is an equal amount of people who have broken up, lost loved ones, lost their job and chose to walk away from God. There are some who have rang in the New Year with absolute euphoria while others can only pray for it all to get better.
Psalm 27 (The Message) 1Light, space, zest--that's GOD! So, with him on my side I'm fearless, afraid of no one and nothing. 3When besieged, I'm calm as a baby. When all hell breaks loose, I'm collected and cool. 4I'm asking GOD for one thing, only one thing: To live with him in his house my whole life long. I'll contemplate his beauty; I'll study at his feet. 5That's the only quiet, secure place in a noisy world, The perfect getaway, far from the buzz of traffic. 6God holds me head and shoulders above all who try to pull me down.
This year had plenty of ups and downs, but ultimately there has been one solid constant- GOD. As I look forward to adventures in this New Year I can only truly be sure of one thing: God will be there. This is both incredibly encouraging to me and yet ridiculously scary, since I am sure I will have days when I will recognize His power and deeds, as well as days that I will not. There will be days when I will be grateful, feeling like I can handle anything and days when I will be disgustingly ungrateful and God will seem miles away. However, I know this is normal!
Looking back on my year I can honestly say that I would have been completely unable to predict any of the things that happened (good and bad). I know this year will be similar in that I will have very little control of what will happen. There have been times this past year where I have forgotten God’s promises and totally wallowed in sorrow, self pity, and despair, but I made it through each of those times because of God’s love for me. This love allowed me to take risks and expose myself to the possibility of injury, damage, or loss. I was able to not give way to fear (1Peter3:6) and experience life to the fullest. Stepping out on faith is always a risk. No matter what this year brings, staying close to God is the only thing that will help me to get through it continuing to dream, change, and grow.
7Listen, GOD, I'm calling at the top of my lungs: "Be good to me! Answer me!" 8When my heart whispered, "Seek God," my whole being replied, "I'm seeking him!" 9Don't hide from me now! You've always been right there for me; don't turn your back on me now.
Don't throw me out, don't abandon me; you've always kept the door open.
11Point me down your highway, GOD; direct me along a well-lighted street; show my enemies whose side you're on. 13I'm sure now I'll see God's goodness in the exuberant earth. 14Stay with GOD! Take heart. Don't quit. I'll say it again: Stay with GOD.
So there is only one New Year’s resolution I pray for myself, as well as all those close to my heart: don’t quit- stay faithful to God.
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Since those first days, I have made it out of the Projects, finished my Masters degree in International Development, and moved to DC to work in my field. As a young single Christian woman my struggles today are a little different than they were when I first came to know God, but who am I kidding, not much. It's the every day battle for my heart to be pure before God, to strive to please him, and help others to seek and know Him.
Over my years of a faithful walk with God I have received much grace and compassion and have been blessed beyond my wildest dreams. Through out it all one thing has stayed consistent: God's word. Through His word I have been inspired and it has kept me faithful even when faith seemed like a foreign concept and God seemed deaf to my prayers. I started emailing my Quiet Times which helped me stay accountable as I shared my struggles and fought for understanding. Some wrote back and said they too were inspired and could relate. I hope some of my times can help inspire others who are seeking and fighting just like I am, to get to heaven and take as many as possible with me along the way.
Like what your read? Check out my blog: http://stronggirlforlife.wordpress.com/
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