Well-fed, Part II

In this Spring Break week, my days opened up to reveal space.
In that space I wanted: Time with the people I love, and time with God.

Time with people I love is easy: I drop in, I lounge on their couch, I eat their food and drink their coffee.  I dwell.  I am restored, revived, refreshed; I am listened to, and I listen; I am committed to and I commit.  It is intentional time, even if space allows it to be a bit spontaneous.

Intentional time with God? Sometimes takes a bit more planning.

That would be why weeks ago I reserved the prayer cabin at my church and began to pray in preparation, asking God to meet me in that time, to bless me with Himself.  Because though He is always with me, and though He is always available, I wanted to make it clear:  I want You.  I want to be listened to, and I want to listen.  I want to be reminded that you are committed to me, and I want to remind you that I am committed to you.  I want to be with you, express my confidence in you, and thank you.  And I want to know your heart, for me and for those around me.

That would also be why the beginning of this week found me fasting in expectation that He would--indeed--meet with me, and speak His truth to my 'inner parts' (see Psalm 51.6 if that strikes you as an odd request...). You see, here is an irony that I have found to be reality:  Sometimes being well-fed requires a removal of the things that typically bring life fullness, as another clear indication that I am saying:  You.  You are my ultimate fullness, you are who I need, who I want.  You are the Source of my well-fed-ness, you and no other thing.  And, I can't wait to get you to myself.

So, yesterday, my preparations took me into this nurturing space, where every need has been thought of and every blessing provided.  I walked in and immediately felt loved by the people who had prepared this little cabin with people like me in mind.

I snuggled into that chair with Bible, books, coffee, snacks, my journal, all around me.  Without reservation, I talked to God, out loud.  The smallest things on my heart, I told Him.  The simple questions and the complex ones, I asked Him. I listened as His Spirit responded, speaking truth in those inner parts, leading me to His Word, to what others have learned as they've sought Him too.  I rested in Him, and I learned more about His heart.

And I realized once again:  You cannot help but be well-fed when you rest in the fullness of such a heart.