Today’s Bread ~ Pssssst!

Psalm 19:1-4a – The heavens tell of the glory of God.  The skies display His marvelous craftsmanship.  Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make Him known.  They speak without a sound or word; their voice is silent in the skies; yet their message has gone out to all the earth, and their words to all the world.

Mornings are a magical time for me.

There is a moment, somewhere between 5:20 and 5:30am, where the world rustles itself from its slumber and ushers in the dawn.

It starts quietly; one bird issuing a tentative “peep,” answered by a sleepy “chirp.”  Within moments, the stillness of the night is broken by the joyful cacophony of a new day.  I cherish that time.

My typical morning starts at five o’clock when the alarm rudely yanks me from my sleep.  With my bleary eyes and slippered feet I patter downstairs, pour my coffee, and open the windows.  Bible and journal open, I take pen to paper and pray.

I usually approach my prayer journal eagerly, like a child rushing to tell her mother something new.  The other day, however, the words wouldn’t come.

As I tried to write, I found myself distracted by the melody of the morning.  I had a nagging feeling that I was to abandon my efforts and go outside.  After a few minutes, I gave in.  Putting my pen down, I picked up my Bible, opened the back door, and stepped into the warm morning air.

I pulled two patio chairs into the middle of our backyard.  I sat in one, propped my legs on the other and leaned back.  And then, the strangest thing happened.

For no particular reason, I had faced myself toward the west.  As I watched the light breeze rustling through the trees, I had a strong sense that I was supposed to turn the other way.  “What are you doing, God,” I asked silently as I twisted the chairs to the east.

Psalm 46:10 – Be still and know that I am God.  I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth.

I sat quietly, feeling the soft wind caress my skin.  I looked up at the soft, fluffy clouds, still gray in the dim light of the morning.  As I watched, the gray slowly turned to gold, and the gold to a brilliant mix of orange and pink. 

My eyes widened.  In the distance, I heard the sound of a rooster crowing in joyful response.  The soft splash of sunlight exploded across the sky, painting the clouds with its warm rays.  Never in my life had I watched the sun rise. 

Psalm 19:4b-5 – The sun lives in the heavens where God placed it.  It bursts forth like a radiant bridegroom after his wedding.  It rejoices like a great athlete eager to run the race.

I felt the Holy Spirit whispering to my soul.  Enjoy me.  Be silent.  Be still.  Experience me.  Let me thrill you.

When was the last time you really enjoyed God?  When was the last time you experienced Him? 

Jesus came to earth to save us from our sins, but He also came that we might know Him intimately.  He came to walk with us, talk to us, heal us, and to have a relationship with us. 

My husband and I see each other every day.  And in the bustle and business of life, schedules and kids, we can go days without really connecting.  We both intrinsically know that, in order to keep our marriage strong, we must set aside time to really focus on each other. 

Our relationship with Jesus is no different.

We live in perhaps the noisiest generation the world has ever seen.  TV, radio, iPods, smart phones.  YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter.  The competition for our attention is ruthless.  The distractions are endless.  When was the last time you unplugged, emptied yourself of self, and let the Holy Spirit fill you?  When was the last time you sat in silence and listened?

When God spoke to the prophet Elijah, it was not in the windstorm, the earthquake, or the fire, but the gentle whisper of a “still, small voice (1 Kings 19:12).”  Don’t forget to stop and listen.  Don’t neglect the importance of maintaining your relationship with Christ.  An hour each Sunday; a quick blessing before dinner; a two minute prayer before you drift off to sleep is not enough.  He longs for you.  He waits for you in the quiet of the evening.  He beckons you in the silence of the dawn.  Let the One who loves you with an everlasting love fill you, satisfy you and sustain you.

Psalm 27:8 – My heart has heard You say, “Come and talk with me.”  And my heart responds, “LORD, I am coming.”

Dear Heavenly Father, what an amazing thought; that You long for us.  We’ll never wrap our minds around the depth of Your love for us this side of heaven.  We confess that we don’t make time for You like we should.  We confess that we try to do things in our own strength, and find ourselves tired and frustrated.  Forgive us, God, and gently convict us to unplug from the noise and plug into You.  You are the only One who can give us lasting peace.  Please help us to hear Your still, small voice.  Please help us to feel the nudge of Your Holy Spirit when You beckon us.  We want to enjoy You, God; we want to experience You.  Please help us to empty ourselves of self so You can fill us.  We love You God; help us to love You more.  Help us to completely trust in You and You alone to meet our needs.  Point out anything in us that is keeping us from true intimacy in You, and help us to turn from it.  We thank You for the magnificent work on the cross.  It is in Your Son’s precious, holy name that we pray.  In Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.