John 19:26-27 - Real Connection
Step 1: Pray. Select.
As I began my prayer time today, I reflected on how important it is to connect on a deeper level beyond just a text in this day and age. We have become so accustomed to sending short digital messages to people, but how often do we truly connect to talk or listen to our friends, family, and loved ones?
I thought about priorities and wanted to ask the Holy Spirit how Jesus found time to connect on a deeper level with his disciples, family, and eventually massive ministry, touching people on such a significant level.
I came across John 19:26-27, and I felt I had landed on a very special place of understanding the depth of Jesus' care for the people he loved. This is where I began my journey today, friends, so I proceeded to Step 2.
Step 2: Write. Read. Circle
After reading the scripture three times, the following words stood out amongst the others:
When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.
Step 3: Re-Write
With a focus on the words I circled that stood out, here are the personalized sentence(s) that came alive in my heart.
Jennifer, Jesus saw His mother and the disciple. He said, “Woman, behold your son!” The disciple said, “Behold your mother,” and from that took her to his own home.
If you are doing this alongside me today, add your name in front of your unique sentence so the Lord can speak directly to you.
Step 4: Visualize
As I close my eyes, I begin to see Jesus on the cross in excruciating pain. I can’t even fathom the thoughts going on inside his mind as he hangs there, battered and bruised. And yet, here in this scripture, he demonstrates once again just how powerful he was, regardless of his circumstances or situation.
Amid his pain and suffering, he musters up enough strength to provide instruction to two of his closest people in his life, Mary, his mother, and John, to ensure they will be able to comfort each other long after he has left the physical world.
Jesus was adamant about developing strong relationships with individuals, but he also helped facilitate incredible bonds among his friends and family. He lived his life creating space and time to spend with a multifaceted group of individuals who might never have known each other, but were brought together by him to form a very special and vital bond, despite their differences. This bond of loving and caring for one another was the key to carrying out his testimony for the world to be saved.
I realize some of us might live this way when it comes to immediate family, and sometimes a friend or two, but amid our busyness, during our pain, when we are caught up in the ways of the world, are we able to spend the quality time required to connect on the level of depth that Jesus did? This level can't be met through just a text or a quick ‘how are you’ and not stopping to really listen to what someone is truly going through. It takes time and effort.
I think about how the world is yearning for connection, yet somehow we don’t reach out for meaningful connection and have become frozen with fear at the thought of being rejected if we talk about true struggles or real needs. Instead, we send out our needs into the void of the digital text message ether and wait anxiously for a digital response, which is nothing like a face-to-face meeting or the sound of someone’s voice in a genuine conversation. It's like sending an SOS signal into outer space and not knowing if it will return, and if it finally does, is it too late when we have already formed the narrative that we are forgotten?
These things are very concerning because Jesus was present in the now, not later. His ministry was exploding all over the world, and yet he remained present. How did he do it? How do we prioritize our lives so that we ensure that we take care of and bond emotionally with the people that we care about and love? To ensure that they know that their feelings are important to us, so that we can, in turn, also receive love from them in a time of need. I'm not saying we should do this because we want reciprocation. All I'm saying is that there has to be more than what we're doing right now to connect and leave a lasting legacy where people take care of each other, even in their discomfort and inconveniences. If Jesus did it, so should we.
I have a question in my mind, so I proceed to Step 5.
Step 5: Ask. Seek
The requests/questions that came to mind are:
Holy Spirit, how do I prioritize and ensure that caring for people and loving my neighbor is actually felt by them, rather than just wiping my hands clean and saying, 'Here, I sent a text'? Wasn't that enough?
Step 6: Hear. Write. Receive
Here is the answer I received:
”You need to organize your time on what the Lord feels is important for His purpose. If your main purpose, my child, is to live a life of love and be like Jesus, loving your neighbor, then why do you not have time to do these things? What is so important in life that you have forgotten what your Savior did for you? It is the first rule. He died for this very thing. So why is this thing not important? I'm not saying I don't understand your struggle of living in this world. The world tells you you need other things in order to be accepted by the people around you. That is a lie. It's the opposite. You need to carry me with you and care for people, connect with them, and spend time with them, not just passing time, but actual quality time. Not just accumulating people for the sake of accumulation, so that you can brag to others about your popularity. That in itself is a dangerous game that I did not advise you to play. We need to understand that a few friends who are quality and will pass on a loving, caring, and nurturing legacy are the real friends to invest your time with. Everyone else is also important because they are my children. However, I did not put you in fellowship with the world. I put you and planted you in the city, in the workplace, in the location where you are currently. There are no accidents in my planning. Make the most of the people in your life. Make the most of and speak life into these people. But do not do it without letting them hear your voice. For you hear my voice and you are excited, invigorated, and restored. So, why wouldn't you do the same as I am showing you? It is not a text message I'm sending you. It is an actual whisper, a sign to let you know that you are seen, that you are heard, that you are known in your prayer time, that I love you enough to stop and see you. Do this thing and everything else will come.”
Step 7: Pray. Confirm
Heavenly Father, I come to you in the name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus.
Thank you for reminding me of my priorities, and I will leave all other things to you, Lord. I trust you and your ways. And if Jesus could take the time while dying on the cross to ensure that his loved ones were settled and okay to carry on long after he was gone, then we should all do the same.
Help me to focus on what you have done for me and how you send the Holy Spirit to speak to me directly, so next time I try to connect with someone, I pick up the phone or go to them so I can show them they matter more than a passing text message.
In Jesus' mighty name, I pray and seal this prayer with the blood of Jesus - Amen.
Step 8: Share. Testify
If you used the 8-Step Prayer Practice today, we would love to hear how God works in your life! You can comment below or share your miracle or testimony HERE.
Conclusion:
Friends, let’s get out of our creature comforts and spend quality time with people in fellowship and conversation.
Make sure they are not only loved by you, but have strong bonds to carry on long after you are gone, continuing to honor the sacrifice of Jesus.
God doesn’t text us; he comes close. Let’s draw close to others like he does.
Mostly, let’s make sure our priorities are in order - LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR, and everything will follow.
God bless you. See you soon!
