Go ahead, sit a while

God loves each of us as if there were only one of us. (St. Augustine)

God’s eye is on those who respect him, the ones who are looking for his love. He’s ready to come to their rescue in bad times; in lean times he keeps body and soul together. We’re depending on God; he’s everything we need. What’s more, our hearts brim with joy since we’ve taken for our own his holy name. Love us, God, with all you’ve got—that’s what we’re depending on. (Psalm 33:18-22)

If we are to ask God to love us with all he's got, wouldn't it be reasonable for him to ask us to do the same toward him? We look for his love - do you ever wonder if he looks for yours, as well? I imagine he sits there, attentive for our knock, and eager to just have us sit with him a while. We've already received the invitation - we don't need to await another. What's more - the invitation isn't 'generic' - it is ours.

How do we show God love? We revere him - trust his ways, listen attentively to his voice, keep his commands, and honestly confess our shortcomings to him quickly. I think we have more than enough ways to 'show' our love - in action and not word alone. Do we consistently reveal our love? If you are anything like me, it has to be continuously 'rekindled'. It doesn't mean I don't love God anymore - it just means I allow things to take up the time I really intended to dedicate to him alone.

When we 'respect' God, we show it by deferring to his plans when we might have different ones in mind. This may be one of the hardest things for those of us who are 'planners'. We make our lists, plot a mental plan, and set out in the direction we intend to follow. Then along comes this little urging within to just stop what we are doing and listen to his voice. If you have ever been there, you know how hard it can be to 'shut down' your plans and just wait on him, entering into his presence, and listening intently.

We want to get things done - God wants us to give things to him. We want to spend every waking moment in activity - God wants us to 'waste' a little time with him before all the busy begins to take us away. We don't always appreciate how much this action of just 'wasting time with Jesus' really isn't a waste at all. It is a time of refreshing before we get into the thick of the battle. It builds us up, clarifies our plans, and gives us light into areas previously held in darkness within those plans. Just sayin!