BY DORAL PULLEY, Today’s Church Tampa Bay
“After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone (Matthew 14:23).”
Selah is a one-word prayer. You can find Selah in the Bible over 70 times (Psalm 3:2-8, Habakkuk 3:3-13). It is a thoughtful musical pause found most frequently in the Psalms. Selah is a time when the music stops, and the audience can reflect on what they heard. Selah also gives the singers and musicians a moment to catch their breath. Like a time out in a sporting event, Selah is an opportunity for the teams to regroup before the next play.
Jesus, the manifestation of the Christ consciousness, was a very busy man. He spent a lot of time preaching and teaching in various cities. Training the disciples and answering their questions was a big part of his daily routine. His audience always needed him to perform another miracle such as turning the water to wine, calming the raging seas, healing the sick, raising the dead, or feeding the multitudes. Jesus’ To-Do List was full of giving sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, speech to the mute, or the restoration of limbs to the lame.
Despite his heavy calendar of events, he took time to Selah. He knew how to dismiss the crowds and go to the mountain to pray. He was comfortable being alone and having quality time with God.
Follow Jesus’ example and be a good steward of your time. Dismiss your crowded thoughts and ascend to the mountain of higher consciousness. Value your alone (all-one) time to focus on your oneness with God. Invest in a moment to breathe deeply. Schedule some time in your planner every day to be still. Set the alarm on your phone to allow for at least 7 minutes of silence so that you can hear what the Spirit is saying to you.
Rev. Doral Pulley is the senior pastor of Today’s Church Tampa Bay, 940 5th Ave. S, St. Petersburg (Staybridge Suites) and 5107 North Central Ave., Tampa.
