Centered in Jesus

September 29 - by Jan Brinson

I have a special place where I go that helps me center myself in Jesus. On the second floor of my house, I have a prayer room. It is small, yet big enough to hold a small couch and a lovely hand-crafted cabinet. The pictures on the wall are of cats, beautiful windows, and even a fairy. The top of the cabinet holds two trolls that belonged to my mother. They stare at me with their adorable scrunched-up faces, and they make me smile. The closets in the room hold multiple Bible studies and other items I hold dear. Quilts and memories also surround me.

When I enter the room, I immediately feel at rest. This is the room where I talk to Father. God, where I bring my troubles and the prayer concerns of others. It is MY place. I emphasize this because I feel I need a place that will hold me, hug me, and nurture me. I live on a very busy street, right near the metro, and it is always busy, even chaotic at times. The house to our left is a nightmare. It has been condemned; the yard is overgrown, the large trees threaten our home as well as the neighbors’, and it is deeply unsettling.

In these late days of summer, from the window of my prayer room on the right side of the house, the neighbor’s gorgeous pink crepe myrtle blooms and shows off for me. It brings me such joy. They also have white lights strung around their beautifully furnished porch that gives off a warm glow in the evenings which offer serenity.

Do you have a special place to call your own, a place that brings you immediate calm or peace? A porch swing, the base of a giant tree, a special place you can drive to? I hope you have a place where you can just be quiet and spend time with Jesus. A spot where you can escape the noise for a little bit and rest into who you are and what you long to do. A place where you can contemplate where your strength and contentment comes from.

So, where does our real help come from? Oh, girls, I can hear you saying it! I can hear you thinking it! Psalm 121, a song of ascent, tells me to lift my eyes to the mountains, my help comes from the Lord, and He will watch over my life now and forevermore. A song of ascent! Our ascent with the Holy One. A path upward, out of our discontent or worry, onto the summit with our Lord. A place of respite and understanding.

When the question comes up, “Are you content?” I hope you can say, “I am content in Jesus.” I hope you can say, “I am content in who I am because He put me here.” Being content is not just about things of this earth; it is in the joy of knowing the Heaven that stands before us.

Let us pray: “Oh Father God, I come before You on this day to ask You to help me be at peace in You. The chaos that surrounds me each day is more than I can bear, unless I remember to rest in Your loving arms. I pray You will help me to find that place, that moment, each day, where I can stop and rest in You. Only You. Thank you for all the blessings that You give. I love You, Father God. Amen!”