"Let them give thanks to the Lord for his
unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men, for he satisfies the
thirsty and fills the hungry with good things." Psalm 107:8-9 (NIV 1984)
When a new neighbor moved in next door,
Caroline rallied the troops in her neighborhood to prepare a warm
greeting. She and her friend planned a feast to take over to welcome the
newcomer to their community. Caroline called her neighbor and was
surprised when her hospitality was met with suspicion.
"Why did you say you wanted to bring me
dinner?" she questioned. Caroline explained that it was a tradition in
their area and that they'd like to deliver dinner to welcome her
personally. The neighbor responded, "I tell you what. I'll give you a
call when I'm hungry." Click.
Caroline reflected on how many times we treat
God the same way that her new neighbor treated her. Each day God lays
out a feast and invites every believer to come eat our fill. I had to
ask myself an important question: How many days do I rush by God's table
and throw an "I'll come when I'm hungry!" back over my shoulder?
I think I'm full, but God knows that I'm
simply ignoring my hunger. I need to sit down daily to eat and be filled
from God's table. Luke 1:53 says, "He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty" (NIV 1984).
I long to have a heart to approach Him daily
just as I am-poor and hungry. He invites me to come to Him so that I can
leave rich and full. What a glorious exchange! What a divine pleasure!
Daily time enjoying God is essential, but
sometimes God gives us an invitation to a private, extended feast. I am
envious of one of my pastors. He takes a week each year for a spiritual
retreat to a monastery. He goes where it's quiet and simple and spends a
week with Jesus.
Maybe someday when my children are older and
I'm caught up on laundry I'll be able to do that, but recently God led
me to do something equally wonderful on a smaller scale. I took a
spiritual retreat during the school day in a room at my church.
As I walked up the stairs to the empty room, I
felt nervous. I had spent hours in prayer with others, but I had never
spent this long alone with God. Would I have enough to say to Him? Would
He speak to me in the silence? Would the minutes drag by? Would I walk
out unchanged or disappointed?
At the end of the day, my questions were
answered. God met me there. We filled our time together with prayer,
Bible reading and worship. God spoke words of direction to me in the
silence. I came in knowing that I was hungry, and He was faithful to
fill me.
Having
mini-retreats with Jesus is something that I plan to do now at least
twice a year. In the midst of a full life, it's necessary to
intentionally set extended time aside to seek His face and worship Him.
I'll still look forward to a week in an abbey, but in the meantime I'll
bask in a school day retreat as I renew my relationship with God and
feast on His goodness!
Dear Lord, help me know You are good. In Jesus' Name, Amen. (Amy Carroll)
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