What’s Missing?
I suspect what I share with you in this paragraph will sound much like your own life, though the specifics will vary. I’ve been very busy with all the regular spiritual endeavors: consistent participation in several prayer groups, in addition to a couple of other personal prayer assignments from the Lord; daily quiet time, with prayer and study of the Bible; writing the Prayer Nuggets and blog entries, along with many other such assignments. Yes, I’ve been busy with the work of the Lord; however, there is a growing sense of something being amiss.
I thought I might be in a dry time in my walk with the Lord, but some key symptoms of that diagnosis were not there. You see, I’ve continued hearing from the Lord during prayer, as well as throughout my daily living. He has continued to answer my questions and give me direction when I’ve asked. He’s opened my eyes to gain insight when I study His Word, and He’s guided me in the writing process. With all these positives, it’s definitely not a dry season, in the way I’ve experienced before; nevertheless, something is lacking, and there is only One Who can tell me.
The Lord, in His infinite love and amazing mercy, made it clear very quickly, once I stopped all my busyness and sat still and quiet in His Presence. (My mind was fighting the whole time to get busy again, but I had to let my spirit man be in control.) The chorus of an old Larnelle Harris song came flooding into my heart, and I received the words as though the Lord was singing them to me: “I miss My time with you, those moments together. I need to be with you each day, and it hurts Me when you say you’re too busy – busy trying to serve Me. But how can you serve Me when your spirit’s empty? There’s a longing in My heart wanting more than just a part of you. It’s true. I miss My time with you.”
James 4:5 “. . . The Spirit Whom He has caused to dwell in us yearns over us and He yearns for the Spirit [to be welcome] with a jealous love” AMP
On a personal level, I’ve been running to God, so to speak, just long enough to ask the latest question or pray for someone else, but I’ve not stopped to find out what He might want to say to me, or if we could just spend some time together without an agenda. According to the above verse, I’m not the only one who has been missing something. God has been yearning for intimacy with me, where we have each other’s full attention with no separation in mind or heart. He has missed time with me! What have I thought is so important as to keep me from this intimacy with Him – the One for whom I supposedly live and work?! What must I do to return to this place, and remain?
James 4:6-8 “But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you.” NIV
It’s this “more grace” that changes my ways and makes intimacy with God my first priority; so, I humble myself, recognizing my absolute dependence on God’s Presence for my life. In this place of humble submission, I receive the grace to come near to my God, unhindered, and know that He will come near to me. This corrected position of intimacy with Him makes the difference in prayer and every other aspect of my life, but it doesn’t come from a one-time effort. It takes a consistent investment of my time, and yields returns beyond compare!
Is something amiss in your spiritual life? Develop intimacy with the Lord by investing your time with Him, not just for Him. You will both be glad you did!
© Copyright 2009 Kay V. Stocking
