Pondering in His Presence: A Journey Into Intentional Time With Godنموونە

Have you ever had one of those moments as you were reading through the Bible where you had a solid plan of what you wanted to read, you felt good about the pace and progress you were making, and suddenly, God interrupted that flow? Well, that's exactly where I found myself not long ago, as I was excitedly on track with my daily Bible-in-a-year reading plan.

It was the start of the year, and just as I was getting ready to check off that day, I felt this unmistakable tug on my heart to pause and stay awhile in a particular passage.

If I can be honest, I am guilty of sometimes getting so caught up in checking off my spiritual to-do list – read a chapter, say a prayer, move on with our day – that I almost miss the greater depth God is inviting me into.

Feeling the sense to sit in a scripture or passage of scriptures a little while longer as his presence creates a holy pause in my heart is what I like to refer to as lingering. It’s those sacred moments when He wants us to look deeper and simply sit still and listen.

This happened to me as I read Matthew 9, particularly when I came across verses 35-37. In this passage, we find Jesus in the midst of an incredibly busy season. The Scripture reads, "Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd." (NKJV)

Here's what really struck me – in the middle of back-to-back ministry, healing, and teaching, Jesus paused. He didn't just glance at the crowd; He truly saw them. He allowed Himself to be moved with compassion. This wasn't a rushed moment; it was a divine pause that led to a deeper understanding.

As someone juggling full-time work, ministry, being a wife and mother, with kids in sports and college, I understand the pressure to keep moving. But here's what I've learned: when I feel that divine tug to pause and ponder, it's actually God's invitation to receive something deeper. Just like my experience that morning as I sat in the Word, sometimes the most powerful moments with God happen in the midst of our ordinary routines – if we're willing to pause and pay attention.

Pause and Ponder: When was the last time you felt God asking you to pause and linger over a particular scripture? What typically keeps you from accepting these divine invitations to pause?