Heart, Mind, Soul, and Strength

We went to visit Husband’s parents and honor them on their 70^th wedding anniversary.  Their home is a 3.5 hour drive through some of the most beautiful scenery on the planet.  While I was noticing the new Spring green, I thought of this passage from Song of Solomon.  It amazes me that the Lover of our souls invites us to come away with him.  As our companion, he delights to give us his attention.  We just need to give him ours.

My lover said to me,
“Rise up, my darling!
Come away with me, my fair one! 

Look, the winter is past,
and the rains are over and gone. 

The flowers are springing up,
the season of singing birds has come”  Song of Solomon 2:10-12

God invites us to join him.  Through the ages he has called and some have accepted his invitation.  It’s amazing that you and I can come close to Almighty God.

“Enoch lived 365 years,  walking in close fellowship with God. Then one day he disappeared, because God took him.”  Genesis 5:23

“The Lord said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain and stay here, and I will give you the tablets of stone with the law and commandments I have written for their instruction.”  Exodus 18:15

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.  Matthew 11:28

On our trip, it was easy for me as the passenger to be still and think about the Lord, but what about the majority of our days when we are “on duty” taking care of many responsibilities?  Can we still enjoy the presence of God?

“Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”
So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.  But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them.”  Mark 6:31-33

We think we have to take time away from our responsibilities in order to get to know Jesus.  But sometimes we just need to use the in-between time we have.   The commute, or while waiting for the microwave.   We can make the most of these minutes to soak in the presence of Jesus.  But often the lessons we learn from him are in the hustle and bustle.  The disciples thought they were going to get a break, and must have been disappointed when the crowds were waiting for them.  Yet they got to participate in a great miracle later that day.  They assisted the Lord in feeding 5,000 men plus their families from 5 buns and 2 fish.  That evening, altho they must have been tired, Jesus sent them back in their boat to the other side of the lake.  They had a hard trip because the winds were against them.  Ha!  How many times do we feel the brunt of those winds that are against us?  The job that should’ve taken 15 minutes takes an hour.  The computer crashes.  The traffic is terrible.  A migraine takes you down.  Yet in their frustration and weariness, they saw Jesus in a whole new light when he came to their aid.  Their eyes saw what no one else got to see.  Jesus walking on the water.  He always comes to our rescue and we get to see his power and glory up close.

Even in busy days, there are ways to connect with God:

Make time to notice the beauty of nature and praise the God who made it.  If you can, take a walk.  If not, at least notice from your window, the budding trees and the blooming flowers.  It will refresh your soul to soak it in and breathe a prayer of thanks.  Another way to let Nature draw you to God is to look at images of God’s creatures or watch nature shows.

Associate with people of faith and listen to their God stories- Hearing their experiences of the Lord showing up in their lives during hard times encourages both of you.

Let music bring you into God’s presence.  Music speaks to our souls.  It can soothe, uplift, release emotions, calm, invigorate, and help us worship the God who made the stars sing.

Take a few minutes to read a devotional when you open your emails.  I subscribe to a few online short daily articles that direct my thoughts to God as I start my workday.  A few are listed below.

Start your morning by praying and reading Scripture.  (Or perhaps you find it better to end your day this way – or both!)  God’s words will resonate in your spirit and draw you to God.

Allow Lady Art to take your hand and lead you toward the Source of beauty.  Our God is beautiful and the Creator of beauty.  True art reminds us that we are made for beauty and for God.

“Let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us.”  Psalm 90:2

This week when you see the bright green leaves glowing in the sun, when a flower nods at you in the breeze, when you hear the happy song of a bird, listen for that quiet, loving voice that is saying to you, “Come.”

Short devotional articles you can subscribe to for a daily lift in your inbox:
LeadingtheWay.org
DesiringGod.org
Upward- Max Lucado
All these can be subscribed to from this main page of devotionals