READ-THINK-PRAY-REST: God’s Pathway to PeaceSample

Peace may be one of the most elusive experiences in our culture today. People are harried, distracted, isolated and trapped within the lonely angst of their digital devices. Perhaps you feel it too—this nagging sense of things left undone, of impossible schedules or frustration that you may not be living the life you’re meant to live. Jesus promised peace that overcomes the world—but how do we find it? Where is the shalom of God when we are assaulted moment by moment with all those pings and beeps and vibrations and little red numbers? 

There is no question that technology, with all its amazing benefits, has added greatly to our stress levels. We are never alone—our smartphones bring the world to our door every single minute, and we can’t imagine leaving it all behind, even for a few minutes a day. Today’s passage takes us into a very different place and time to discover what sustained one of our spiritual patriarchs through a seriously stressful season. Let God speak to you through Moses’ experience today.

Read: Sit quietly and read the passage from beginning to end without stopping. When you finish, read it one more time, asking God to open the eyes of your heart as you meet him here today.

Think: Why might the tent have been outside the camp? What did it represent? What were the people doing when they went to it? What did Moses experience—what did he see, feel, hear? What does this passage tell you about God? What did Moses know he couldn’t live without? How do you think God felt about his desires? What does it mean to hear God say he knows you by name?

Pray: As you ponder these verses and what you’ve seen so far, ask God two simple questions: Lord, what are you inviting me to understand from this for my life today? Wait on him, and once you think you’ve heard something, ask this: Lord, how do you want me to respond to this today?

Rest: Sit quietly for a couple of minutes or more in God’s presence. Breathe deeply throughout, offering this prayer whenever your mind wanders: Lord, show me your ways that I might know you. When your time is up, thank God for meeting you in His Word.