The Lord’s Day
I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet. ~ Revelation 1:10
Have you ever had one of those moments when you desperately needed to hear from God for wisdom or direction, but life was so noisy you could barely hear yourself think? Between responsibilities, family, work, church, and the never-ending list of things that need to get done, finding quiet time with the Lord can feel like one more thing to squeeze into an already full day. Sometimes, we need to stop trying to fit God into our schedule and start making room in our schedule for Him to start each day off right!
As we go through the book of Revelation in the coming weeks, my goal isn’t to explain every detail or pretend I understand everything this supernatural book contains. Instead, I want to pull out truths we can apply in our lives each day. I’m trusting that as we read through each section, the Holy Spirit will give us greater understanding and reveal what He wants us to take a hold of. The truth is, we don’t have to understand everything about the future to hear what God wants to say to us today.
In Revelation chapter one, John introduces us to the circumstances surrounding the message he received. He tells us that he was on the island of Patmos because of the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus. He was separated from the society and the familiar surroundings he knew, yet he wasn’t separated from God. Then John tells us when this extraordinary encounter took place. He was “in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day.”
I’ve always thought of the Lord’s Day as Sunday, the first day of the week, and that is a common Christian understanding of the phrase. There are other interpretations, too, but the important thing for us to notice is what John was doing. He was in the Spirit, giving his attention to the things of God. We aren’t told exactly what that looked like. Perhaps he was praying, worshiping, or simply spending time in God’s presence. Whatever the details, John was ready to receive what the Lord wanted to reveal to him.
Think about his circumstances. John wasn’t sitting in a comfortable chair with a cup of coffee and his favorite worship music playing in the background. He was exiled on an island because of his faith. His surroundings weren’t ideal, and his situation certainly wasn’t what he would have chosen. But God met him right where he was. His location didn’t limit God’s ability to reveal great things, and his difficult circumstances didn’t prevent him from encountering the presence of the Lord Jesus.
While John was in the Spirit, he heard a loud voice behind him, sounding like a trumpet. When he turned to see who was speaking, he received a powerful revelation of Jesus Christ. Later in the chapter, Jesus identifies Himself as the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last. He is the eternal One, the One who was, who is, and who is to come. John’s encounter reminds us that Jesus isn’t limited by our circumstances, and we never have to be in a perfect setting for Him to meet us.
We still have the privilege and honor of spending time with our heavenly Father and learning to recognize the leading of His Holy Spirit. We may not receive a vision of future world events like John did, but God can give us wisdom for our decisions, direction for our next steps, encouragement when we’re weary, and reminders of His love when we need them most. We don’t need to chase extraordinary experiences to know God is near. We can seek Him through His Word, prayer, worship, and a heart that’s willing to listen.
Here are a few suggestions of how to make room for God in your daily life.
- Set aside a specific time to meet with Him. Choose a time that works for your schedule, whether it’s early in the morning, during your lunch break, or before bed. Start with ten or fifteen minutes if that’s what you can manage. You don’t have to begin with an hour long prayer meeting to build a meaningful habit. Start somewhere, and keep showing up.
- Put away distractions. Silence your phone, step away from the television, and give yourself permission to stop thinking about everything on your to do list for a few minutes. If your mind wanders to the laundry, the grocery list, or that email you forgot to answer, gently bring your attention back to the Lord. The laundry will still be there when you finish. It has a remarkable ability to wait for you!
- Spend time in God’s Word before looking for answers everywhere else. Read a passage of Scripture slowly and ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand what it means and how you can apply it. Rather than rushing through several chapters just to check a box, take time to consider what the passage reveals about God and how it speaks to your life.
- Make room for both talking and listening. Prayer isn’t only about presenting God with a list of requests, even though He invites us to bring our needs to Him. Take time to worship Him, thank Him for His goodness, and become quiet before Him. When a thought or impression comes to mind, weigh it against Scripture and God’s character rather than automatically assuming every thought is His voice.
- Make the Lord’s Day and gathering with other believers a priority in your week. Set aside time on Sunday, or establish another regular time if your responsibilities require it, to give special attention to God. Worship with other believers, enjoy fellowship, rest, and spend time in His presence. Let it be a time to receive from Him rather than simply rushing from one activity to the next.
- Start where you are, even if life feels chaotic. You don’t need a perfectly quiet house, a special room, or an ideal set of circumstances to spend time with God. If you’re caring for children, working long hours, or walking through a difficult season, begin with the time and space you have. John encountered Jesus on an island in exile. God can meet you in the middle of your circumstances, too.
Today I want to encourage you to make room for the Lord in your day and give Him your undivided attention. You don’t have to wait until life settles down, your schedule clears, or every problem is solved before you spend time with Him. John was in a difficult place when Jesus revealed Himself, and that same truth can encourage you today.
Your circumstances don’t determine whether God is able to meet you. Make time to open His Word, talk with your heavenly Father, worship Him, and listen with a willing heart. You may not hear a voice like a trumpet or receive a vision of things to come, but you can grow in your understanding of His Word, become more sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s leading, and receive the peace and strength you need for the days ahead.
Give Him the gift of your attention, not because you have to earn His love, but because you love Him and want to know Him more. Let the Lord’s Day become more than a day on the calendar. Let it be a reminder to make room for the One who is worthy of your time, your worship, and your heart.
Today’s scripture reading: Revelation 1:9-11
9 I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet,
11 saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and, “What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.”
Journal:
- What tends to distract me most when I try to spend time with God, and what is one thing I can do to reduce that distraction?
- Have I been waiting for my circumstances to improve before making more room for the Lord? How does John’s experience on Patmos encourage me?
- What time of day could I set aside regularly to read God’s Word, pray, worship, and listen?
- What is one way I can make the Lord’s Day more meaningful and create space for rest, worship, and time with Him?
- Write a prayer asking the Lord to help you recognize His leading, grow in His Word, and make spending time with Him a priority in the coming week.
