The Quiet Work of God - Your Nightly Prayer - February 23rd
The Quiet Work of God
Your Nightly Prayer
By Chelsey DeMatteis
TONIGHT'S SCRIPTURE
Jesus also used this illustration: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough.” - Matthew 13:33
SOMETHING TO PONDER
A few weeks before Christmas, I went to a friend's house for a playdate with our daughters. I walked in, and the glorious smell that filled her home stopped me in my tracks. The aroma added a layer of coziness and invitation to an already beautiful space.
As we made our way from the basement back to the kitchen, I finally asked, “What did you bake this morning that smells so delicious?” She pointed to the bread maker on the counter. I had so many questions at that moment. How could a kitchen tool produce something so delicious when all you have to do is dump the ingredients in and walk away? Might I add, this isn’t exactly like dumping something into the crockpot and letting it cook while it sits. The bread maker kneads, rises, and bakes the bread over the course of hours.
It does quiet work when no one is around and produces something beautiful while no one is intently watching.
After leaving her house, this was the number one gift I wanted for Christmas! After feeling something special when I smelled that amazing smell that can only come from fresh-baked bread, I knew I wanted that in my house for a whole host of reasons. Christmas came, and a bread maker appeared! I was thrilled to say the least. That evening, I made my first loaf, or should I say, the bread maker made its first loaf, and it taught me a lot about the unseen process of what God is doing.
God works in the unseen, quiet spaces. He kneads, rises, and prepares wonderful works that edify and encourage us. He brings forth situations that have a heavenly aroma saturating the places and spaces we find ourselves in. And sometimes, all we notice is His still small voice or the evidence of His fingerprints. It’s not a loud and demanding proclamation of His faithfulness; it’s much sweeter and more intimate; it’s the trace of faithfulness. It’s the quiet work of God.
Jesus did works in front of people, seemingly often; however, many of His works can be found in the innermost spaces of one's heart. His life and pursuit caused a stirring - a kneading and a rising, if you will - that people at times couldn’t articulate in words, but they sensed something new being birthed in their Spirit.
How have you seen God work in the quiet places? Have you walked into a place and sensed the aroma of the heavenlies or traced the hands of the living God? Where in your life has He orchestrated something that you didn’t see coming, but once it unfolded, you knew He had prepared a wonderful thing for you, His beloved Child? Don’t discount the quiet. Don’t write off the small. Make room for both in the physical and spiritual realms.
The heavenly work God is doing in your life is just like the leaven spoken of in Matthew 13. His plans require time for kneading as He prunes our hearts; they must have time to rise in a sheltered place as He stirs the Spirit to guide and direct us, and there in the waiting He teaches us patient endurance. Rest in the quiet work of our Savior and trust in the work of His hands. He has prepared great things for you in the secret place of His heart.
YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER
Father,
Thank you for the gift of the quiet places, both in the physical and spiritual realm. I pray to find rest and solace in the plans you are preparing for me. You give a beautiful account in the Word of God of the work you do in the unseen and how that work produces a patient, willing-to-wait endurance. As I grow in my understanding of who you are and look at the rhythms you’ve created in my life, I pray to find a deeper intimacy with you. Holy Spirit, help me not write off the quiet and small. Create in me a heart that invites more of those moments: more stillness and more peace. Guide me and direct me, Lord.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
THREE THINGS TO MEDITATE UPON
1. Where in my life is God working quietly, even if I can’t yet see the outcome?
2. How can I better welcome the slow, hidden rhythms of the Spirit’s work?
3. What small, faithful step can I take today while I wait on God’s timing?
Reflect on tonight’s prayer and share how God met you there. Join the Your Nightly Prayer discussion on the Crosswalk Forum.
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/Anastasiia Krivenok
Chelsey is the voice behind the Living with Less Podcast and author of the 52-week devotional More of Him, Less of Me: Living a Christ-centered Life in a Me-centered World. She writes devotions for Lifeway Women's Journey Magazine, Crosswalk.com, and iBelieve.com. She also writes Bible reading plans for the YouVersion Bible App. Chelsey lives in Ohio with her husband and two children. You can connect with her on Instagram @chelseydematteis and at her website ChelseyDeMatteis.com.
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