You, God, are my God,
earnestly I seek you;
I thirst for you,
my whole being longs for you,
in a dry and parched land
where there is no water. (Psalm 63:1 NIV)
This past weekend I helped with our church’s women’s conference, where we hosted about 250 women for a time of retreat and refreshment – a “pause” in our lives. I was asked to be part of a panel discussion about the practical ways you seek and spend time with God. Each of us on the panel were at different stages of life – very young kids, teens and young adults (me), empty nest with grandkids, and empty nest but working full time – but the hope was that the women who attended the conference would hear some ideas for how they, too, can connect with God.
When I was asked to do this panel, I remember thinking that I’m not exactly the “poster child” for extended quality time with God. Whether you are a parent caring for young children, an adult child caring for a dying parent, or a “sandwich” generation doing both, the challenge of finding that God-and-Me time is real. Time spent quietly, unhurriedly, in the presence of God is a sweet gift and, depending on your season of life, can be very rare. I count as very fortunate the people whose upbringing included the emphasis on quiet, Bible study, prayer, worship, and all the associated things to that regular connection with God. I didn’t grow up with that emphasis on spiritual discipline, and trying to develop it while raising children is like pushing a truck up a mountain – it’s possible, but quite difficult.
But God. God meets us in the challenges and helps pull that “truck” where it needs to go. And he gives us grace when we fall and that truck slides backwards a bit. His invitation always calls us to a place of deeper intimacy, and as long as we continue to hunger for God, he will meet us in that place. He is our Keeper, our Guard, our Guide, our Shelter.
I realize that [my] true help and protection is only from the Lord, our Creator who made the heavens and the earth. He will guard and guide me, never letting me stumble or fall. God is my keeper; he will never forget nor ignore me. He will never slumber nor sleep; he is the Guardian-God for his people, Israel. Yahweh himself will watch over [me]; he’s always at [my] side to shelter [me] safely in his presence. (Psalm 121:2-5 TPT)
How DO you connect with God in the midst of “all the things?” You do what you can as you can. You take advantage of the little spaces of time. Ten minutes in the shower is a prayer opportunity. A twenty minute walk outside can be worship and prayer. A thirty minute ride in the car by yourself can be quiet and listening time. Instead of turning on the news or scrolling social media while you eat a meal, read your Bible or some devotional material, or watch a good sermon. Do what you can as you can. Are these shorter times as satisfying as long times? Maybe not. But something is better than nothing, if for no other reason than it helps us to stay hungry for God.
God,
You are our God. Earnestly we seek you, thirsting for you, longing for you in a parched, dry and weary land. In all phases and seasons of life, you are our Rock, our Shelter, our Anchor in the storm – the One to whom we cry out. Jehovah Shalom, we ask for peace to come upon those of us who honestly and genuinely hunger and thirst for You, but for whom the quiet and intimate time is not plentiful or is even rare. Where there are places to jettison unnecessary parts of our lives, give us discernment, courage, and wherewithal to do that. When we are in the center of a storm, when we are right in the middle of your callings for our lives, when we are living in obedience and faith, give us stamina for this season. Give us peace to be still, to cease striving, to stop fighting, and trust our Abba Father’s arms of love to surround us. Help us know that your hands are holding us. Help us to see and take advantage of times to spend with you – whether moments, minutes, or many hours – and be real and present to us. Stir up our hunger for you. We have seen you in the sweet sanctuary of the secret place. We have beheld your power and your glory. Your love is better than life, and our lips will glorify you. We will praise you as long as we live, for your grace, peace, mercy and your faithfulness is real for us. We ask these things with the empowerment of Holy Spirit and in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, AMEN.
You, God, are my God,
earnestly I seek you;
I thirst for you,
my whole being longs for you,
in a dry and parched land
where there is no water.
I have seen you in the sanctuary
and beheld your power and your glory.
Because your love is better than life,
my lips will glorify you.
I will praise you as long as I live,
and in your name I will lift up my hands.
I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods;
with singing lips my mouth will praise you.
On my bed I remember you;
I think of you through the watches of the night.
Because you are my help,
I sing in the shadow of your wings. I cling to you;
your right hand upholds me. (Psalm 63:1-8 NIV)
I look up to the mountains and hills, longing for God’s help.
But then I realize that our true help and protection
is only from the Lord,
our Creator who made the heavens and the earth.
He will guard and guide me, never letting me stumble or fall.
God is my keeper; he will never forget nor ignore me.
He will never slumber nor sleep;
he is the Guardian-God for his people, Israel.
Yahweh himself will watch over you;
he’s always at your side to shelter you safely in his presence.
He’s protecting you from all danger both day and night.
He will keep you from every form of evil or calamity
as he continuously watches over you.
You will be guarded by God himself.
You will be safe when you leave your home,
and safely you will return.
He will protect you now,
and he’ll protect you forevermore! (Psalm 121:1-8 TPT)
“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” (Psalm 46:10 ESV)