Do you long for closeness, as I do, everyday deep connections? Our hearts are made for connection. For relationship. With those nearest to us, and those we love who live far from us. And how can we even find what we long for in the midst of our busy days, in this beautiful but broken, hurting world and culture that we live in? Where do we turn to find what we long for, what we so desperately search for?
And maybe our first step, and our first longing, is for deep, intimate connection with the God who made us, who created us so that He could shower His love on us. He desires to pour His love into each one of us. His love for you. For me. The deepest kind of love, the most treasured connection that we could ever wish for. An everyday heart-to-heart relationship. And then, filled up with this closeness of being deeply loved, we find that the overflow of this love spills out to nurture and grow the other deep relationships and connections that we long for with those around us.
How do we nurture this kind of connection and relationship with the God who loves us so deeply? May I suggest a simple tool that helps me day-by-day? It may not be the tool that you need, for we are all made differently, but maybe it will encourage you in some way.
For me, it begins with a heart that is longing for and desiring deep connection, and also, it begins with pen and paper. Why pen, and why paper? For me, it means that I must pause from the never-ending things that draw my attention (even good and wonderful things), and focus. I need to still my heart to write. To take the time to put my heart and longings into words, and onto paper. To express what is in my thoughts, and on my heart.
Maybe it could be compared to pulling up a comfy chair to spend focused one-on-one time with someone we love. Of course, this dialogue with God happens anytime, anywhere, even in the middle of the night when awakened or unable to sleep ... but an intentional pausing maybe is like accepting a special invitation for deep, one-on-one connection. I accept the invitation, and come to the table (or to a soft chair or loveseat) with pen and paper, pausing my sometimes (often) busy pace, to draw close, to listen and learn from Him.
I then pick up His Word, with a heart ready to listen and learn. And as I read His words with my heart, I will hear His heart. And then I will write down, word for word, the verses that speak truth to my heart. Not writing all that I read, of course, but writing the specific verses that reach deeply into my heart. Words of love, and words of truth that I so desperately need. Words and truths that I long for. That touch me in the deepest places. Opening up His Word, writing what I read on paper, storing it in my heart. And then responding to Him, pausing, and writing my thoughts to Him.
This meeting of hearts, by His grace and mercy, and made possible by the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus, is what we are made for. Our greatest treasure ... to be loved by Him.
Behold, I'm standing at the door, knocking.
If your heart is open to hear My voice
and you open the door within,
I will come in to you, and feast with you,
and you will feast with Me.
(Rev. 3:20 The Passion Translation)
And we will find that this love, His love, then overflows from our hearts to those around us. Bringing deeper connections and relationships than we ever imagined. And by His grace, we will live a life of pulling up close to those we love and those He brings our way. We will pause our busy lives, and listen intently. And we will speak words of life and encouragement with each other, finding the deep connections and relationships that we all long for.
