Finding a Corner

By Michael K. Farrar, O.D.

© God’s Breath Publications

 

John Stott, famous British theologian and preacher, was traveling to a speaking engagement in England and had a small layover in a train station. He was concerned that he wouldn’t have time to pray and be alone with the Lord once he arrived at his destination. He therefore decided to look around the bustling train station for a quiet place to pray. Hundreds of people scurried about him. Baggage carts competed for space. The passenger trains coming and going made a deafening sound. He finally noticed a small-secluded corner where two walls came together. He proceeded to plant himself in this intersection of walls. Facing the cold reddish bricks, he bowed his head and spoke with his Creator. After several minutes of communion he felt refreshed and ready to proceed onto to his destination. When he turned around he was surprised to find a crowd of people staring at him, wondering what in the world this elderly man was doing stuck in the corner of a train station gazing at the blank wall.

 

John Stott demonstrated in this situation a desire to fellowship with his Lord. He also evidenced a commitment to seek fellowship with God, despite the limitations and restrictions of his surroundings. All of us have similar problems finding the time to spend with our Savior in our busy world. There’s no excuse really, but we offer up reasons that we don’t have enough time, there isn’t a good place to do it, we have other things to get done first, we didn’t remember, we’re not in the mood and on and on. Too often we let our environment dictate our spiritual decisions, give in to the weakness of our flesh or allow Satan to distract us from our commitment to Christ. John Stott made an attempt to emulate his mentor, Jesus Christ, and so should we.

 

Jesus had a strong desire to stay in touch with the One who had sent Him, His Heavenly Father. After Jesus was baptized he went into the wilderness to pray and talk with His Heavenly Father. Even in the solitude of the desert, Satan intruded into His isolated world. During His short ministry, Jesus often sought time with God on the mountainsides and in the gardens of Israel. Even Jesus, the Son of God, knew the importance of fellowship with God and prayer. He sought out solitude so that he could focus on God and His calling. Of all the things the disciples could have asked Jesus to teach them, the one thing requested by them was to learn how to pray (Luke 11). They marveled at Jesus’ dedication to seeking God through prayer. They realized that He placed great importance upon it and were convicted that in order to cope in life, prayer is essential.

 

Psalms 63:1 seems to describe the situation John Stott faced in the train station and the one we face daily when it says, “O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.” We live in a world that is parched spiritually. Surrounding us is a desert of philosophies, worldviews and false religions. All around us are materialistic distractions, entertainment opportunities and time eating pursuits that prevent us from seeking the one thing our soul needs, communion with our Lord and Master. Finding a corner to speak to our God can be hard at times, but it may not be as hard as it appears. John Stott found a corner in a busy train station. You and I can find corners in our car on the way to work, in our bedrooms at home, in a parking lot of a shopping mall, in the woods of a city park. God is only a prayer away and doesn’t require a lot for us to talk with Him.

 

Our physical environment can hinder our prayers, but if the desire for God is within us, we will strive to speak to God no matter what surrounds us. Soldiers have prayed to their Savior amidst the thunder of shells exploding nearby. Patients have prayed to God during intense pain in hospital beds. I am sure people were praying to their Creator as the twin towers collapsed beneath them in New York City. Too often we use our environment and circumstances as excuses to avoid meeting our Savior.

 

God waits in the corners of the world to commune with us. He waits patiently for us to come and allow Him to guide, comfort, advise, and tenderly show His love.

 

There is a corner that is always accessible for us to speak with our Heavenly Father. It lies within our hearts. He waits in the corners of your heart, mind and soul, in those areas most private to us that no one sees. God is there ready to speak with us. Christians have God’s Spirit within them, always ready and willing to discuss with them the needs of their life. Those who have not accepted Christ as Savior have a void that God desires to fill with His presence. Seek God in a corner and reap the blessings of spiritual nourishment. Seek God and allow Him to fill you with His Spirit. Seek God if He isn’t already in your heart as Lord and Master.