Written by Jocelyn Liu. Artwork by Jocelyn Liu.
I love how God speaks to people in everyday situations, through the small things in life, the conversations, the stillness, and the observations we happen to make. God is in it all! He’s a God of intimacy.
A few months ago I was watching a little five year old girl. She kept asking me to play with her. I was feeling so tired that day and did not want to do anything. As I was staring out into space, I felt a tug at my arm and her voice echoing: “Can you please play with me please?” I looked into her bright eyes; I couldn’t say “No.” I gave in and said “Okay let’s play with those Lego blocks over there.” I quickly grabbed them and started building a fancy house with elaborate staircases, rooms, tables and chairs; she helped along until we finally used up all of the Lego pieces. She looks at me and said “Now can you play with me?” I look back at her confused and said “I thought I was already playing with you!” She replied “No you were working.”
That woke me up; I knew God was telling me something here. My idea of playing might not be that little girl’s idea of playing. My idea of loving God might not be His idea of me loving Him.
He doesn’t want my works he wants my heart. I can be busy with church, busy with Bible studies but if my heart is not in it, it means nothing. I want to spend time with Him. I want to be aware of His presence. I want to do what He is calling me to do, not rush into things that I think I ought to do.
“In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted,
but you have given me an open ear.
Burnt offering and sin offering
you have not required.
Then I said, “Behold, I have come;
in the scroll of the book it is written of me:
I delight to do your will, O my God;
your law is within my heart.”
Psalm 40:6-8 (ESV)
Take your time with God today, He treasures the moments that you sit with Him and talk to Him or just listen to His voice. This is what you were made for, to worship Him; to love Him. Set aside busy work and come into His presence.
Reflection Questions
1. Do you spend more time doing things for God or doing things with God?
2. What hinders you from cultivating intimacy with God? How can you carve out space to “sit with Him and talk to Him or just listen to His voice?”