Our Daily Bread Devotional For July 29, 2023: Quiet, Please

Our Daily Bread Devotional For 29th July 2023, Saturday ODB Message

July 29, 2023 – Our Daily Bread Devotional, Saturday ODB Message written by Bill Crowder and Insight by Tim Gustafson

TOPIC: Quiet, Please

Bible in a Year: Psalms 49–50, Romans 1

Key Verse: But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. Luke 5:16

Today’s Scripture
Luke 5:12-16

July 29, 2023 – Our Daily Bread Devotional Insight

Luke 5:16 marks the second occurrence in just a short time that Jesus sought solitude to talk with His Father. We learn from a parallel passage in Mark’s gospel that He’d recently been in a “solitary place, where he prayed” (Mark 1:35). At that time, He told the people, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns” (Luke 4:43). He was near one of these unnamed Galilean towns when He performed a miracle. Luke says the man Jesus met was “covered with leprosy” (5:12). The law of Moses required people with leprosy to remain “outside the camp” (Leviticus 13:46). They were to have no physical contact with anyone. Yet Jesus, in seeming defiance of Mosaic law, “reached out his hand and touched the man” (Luke 5:13). He could do this because He was the very fulfillment of the law (Matthew 5:17)

July 29, 2023 – Our Daily Bread Devotional Message:

Green Bank, West Virginia, is a tiny community in the rugged Appalachian Mountains. The town resembles dozens of other small towns in the area—with one major exception. None of the 142 residents have access to Wi-Fi. This is to prevent interference from Wi-Fi or cellular phone towers near the Green Bank Observatory, whose telescope is constantly trained on the sky. As a result, Green Bank is one of the most technologically quiet places in North America.

Sometimes quiet is the best environment for moving forward—especially in our relationship with God. Jesus Himself modeled this by retreating to quiet, secluded places to talk with His Father. In Luke 5:16 we read, “Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” Perhaps the key word there is often. This was Christ’s regular practice, and it sets the perfect example for us. If the Creator of the universe was this aware of His dependence upon His Father, how much more do we need Him!

Retreating to a quiet place to be refreshed in God’s presence equips us to go forward in His renewing strength. Where can you find such a place today?

Reflect & Pray
What are some of the distractions that can interrupt your prayer times? How could having a designated quiet place help you stay focused in prayer?

Father, sometimes the background noise of life in this world is deafening, pulling my attention away from You and hindering the time with You. Help me find a place where I can come away from it all and simply enjoy Your wonderful presence.

Our Daily Bread Devotional For July 29, 2023, Saturday ODB Message . Our Daily Bread Ministries (ODB) is a Christian organization founded by Dr. Martin De Haan in 1938. It is based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with over 600 employees. It produces several devotional publications, including Our Daily Bread. our daily bread devotional for today audio our daily bread booklet.

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