I’ve been reading a pretty wonderful book about Solitude, Silence, and Stillness. We are a nation of noise…very loud, obtrusive noise! As I read, I was convicted of my taking part in this cacophony of distraction. Ah yes, just what the enemy ordered up. Keep us busy, distracted, and caught up in the noise of this world, and we are effectively disabled from our God-parts.

Our God-parts? Yes. Those things that God would say to us about life, order, being fed, and sharing His Good News. Yes, I am guilty. Who isn’t? We are all caught up in this barrage of distraction, to the point that we might find ourselves lost in this world.

This morning I rose up and, duly encouraged by completing this book, John Mark Comer’s “Into the Quiet,” I purposed to spend some quality time with God. OK, I’m going to admit that this has not been my usual path with God in recent months. Hit and miss. Hit and miss. I’ve been distracted with healing from a difficult husband-health year last year, and then a horrific summer of sitting in the midst of a roaring and tremendous wildfire in my surrounding backyard. I don’t mean my literal backyard, but the fire was close enough to drive us into a Level One evacuation mode and many friends to leave their homes from the threat. Never have I experienced that before! So I’m admitting that I’ve been distracted and somewhat frozen for quite a number of months.

So this morning, I sat down in my recliner, prepared and determined to spend some quality time with God. Hmmm, where do I start Lord? I’m out of practice here and I feel that I’m starting from ground zero. As encouraged by Comer’s book, I opened up the Psalms. Distraction bombardment. Ahem, rein it in Linda and begin again. I read the intro to Psalms. Another bombardment. No, enemy, I’m going to do this today! Got some ammunition from the intro by the divisions of the Psalms, mirroring the Pentateuch. Look in your Bible and hopefully your translation has such an introduction. Ok, onward.

Psalm 1. Familiar words, comforting words. “He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers.” Psalm 1:3 NASBS. This is my heart, to be firmly planted and yet, so often do I find myself jerked up by the roots of my being, flailing in a world literally spinning out of control. Yes, that’s my interpretation of this life; spinning out of control.

Onward, my quiet time is waiting. I ponder a few of the words in this Psalm and realize that yes, sometimes I find myself planted by streams of living water provided by my Savior. Other times, I determine that, as in the past few months, I’m far, far away from His living waters.

Forgive me Lord!

Bring me back Lord Jesus. I finish the Psalm. Now what? All I can think to do is praise Him in a couple of songs of worship. I can’t say I’ve connected. I sing a couple more songs and then I’m reminded of a song that just melted my heart in the early months of this year. I went back to a music video of that song and BOOM! There He is! As I sing, tears of appreciation, adoration, and thankfulness overwhelm me. HE overwhelms me! I can feel His loving arms wrap tightly around me and His Presence is enough.

I wanted words today Lord! But no words were heard.

Instead, I realized that it was enough to feel His love wrapped gently and completely around me. The warm blanket of God’s love. Ahhh!

I looked at my watch just then. An hour had passed. What? An hour? Really? So sweet is the Presence of our Lord that time seems to stop. I am seen. I am loved. I am in His Presence and that is enough. I’ve managed somehow, in my clunky way, to connect with the lover of my soul. And I am eternally grateful that He has given me one more day.

Thank you for Your amazing grace Lord. Without it, I am nothing. But with it…I gain strength to go on. Today. Ever again, in the Presence of my Savior.

It is definitely enough.