Temporal Intimacy
The past two weeks have been amazing! I’m glad to be back, but am now faced with the thick reality of how temporal the experiences were.
A week ago Saturday I drove home from Philadelphia. It was early morning. I spent my first fifteen minutes on the road watching a fly on my windshield. When that thrilling entertainment came to an end, I turned on a worship CD.
I love driving by myself. As I let my mind wander and my heart sing, unbidden tears streamed down my face. I didn’t even bother to wipe them away. I felt they were washing me clean as God revealed Himself to me. All the wonders I’ve taken for granted, the blessings I’ve felt entitled to, the miraculous journey He’s enabled me to take. I was overcome by humility, honor, and gratitude. Why would the Creator of the universe take an interest in me? Why would He care what happens to me? I belted out praises to Him. I confessed and prayed and then sang some more.
Now, we’re back to normal life. Vacation is over. My mountain-top conference experience is past. School starts in a matter of days, my calendar is already filled for the next few weeks, and where has my praise gone? It’s been shelved, as always happens when I get back to “normal” life. I hate it. I love those moments of intimacy with God! Why is it so difficult to maintain that closeness? Why, when I get in my routine, do I prioritize sleep over quiet times? Why do deadlines and schedules make my faith robotic? Do I really believe five minutes in the bathroom is enough to feel close to God?
Making time to be still is difficult, but it’s so worth it. What helps you find that time? How do you keep your relationship with God fresh? What do you do with “broken appointments” with Him?
Posted on August 18, 2008, in praise, prayer, quiet time, relationships. Bookmark the permalink. 6 Comments.
Tanya, A year and a half ago, the Lord called me to a 40-day journey, during which I fasted and feasted upon Him and His Word. He has since called me to three of those 40-day journeys, and I am beginning a fourth one on September 1st. These consecrated periods of time help train me to focus soley on Him, and I find that, through them, He strengthens me so that I am better able to fend off all the worldly distractions.
With a family to care for, it seems impossible, but, of course, “… nothing is impossible with God” (Luke 1:37)!
Monday blessings!
Kathryn: Thanks for the encouragement! It does seem impossibe sometimes, but I know better. Our church just announced a 40-day study on fasting and feasting. We’re starting in October. I wonder if it’s the same study!
Here’s the thing, I’m not a quiet time kind of girl. My husband and I listen to the Bible and pray together in the mornings, but I don’t really do a set aside quiet time in the traditional way.
I pray without ceasing. Everything around me–reading, watching a movie, watching the Olympics, doing dishes–becomes encounters with God. This is especially true when I’m writing, practicing piano, or doing something artistic (even though I’m not good at visual art, I’ve been doing that as my prayers and reflections on God, life, etc). Even my knitting becomes a prayer for whoever will receive the scarf. I guess those are my quiet times.
I used to be able to do that! But since having kids, it seems I can’t focus. My writing is definitely a ‘quiet time’ and then I have showers and driving that usually qualify as that, too. Hmm … you’ve given me much to think and pray about.
I just attended Beth Moore’s Live Event and really came away blessed. One of the things she said is that we should schedule our quiet time every morning. She used the verse from the Bible “His mercies are new every monring.”
I struggle with the same issues… sometimes I feel enveloped by the Lord and then in the mundane of every day life I lose my focus. I am trying to make an appointment with the Lord every morning… reminding myself that His mercies are new every day.
Hope that this helps.
From reading your blog, I would venture to say that you do live in the constancy of “God Moments.” You find (and recognize) Him in your children, in books you read, in nature…in the everydayness of being. These may not be those glorious moments of being totally captured in His glory but those moments must be few in order to be precious. Treasure what you experienced on vacation but enjoy the Godness of today.