I Am In You

John 14:20: “On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.”

What a journey this life has been and will continue to be! What a place I am in today. When I recently felt I wanted to spend more time in communion with God and start writing about my spiritual journey, I was reminded of the jogging route I used to take years ago. Before I was married or had children I used to run three miles to a nearby lake, rest, pray, and run home. I would stop and spend time next to the edge of the lake, looking at the sky and watching the water move peacefully. I would stay for close to an hour resting and praying. God would reveal so much to me in the little time I gave Him. What a crazy gift He would give in return for my attention. He poured peace over me. He calmed my heart and made my mind right. I experienced unshakable confidence as I grew to know with certainty His love for me. I am reminded of one particular day in all those many rendezvous with the source of goodness. All throughout the heavy three miles to the lake and back home, God’s words, “I am in you and you are in me,” sounded through me. I felt complete. A longing for those days started Quiet. Now it is a busier time in this great journey, but I have found my “lake” in the quiet that I enjoy with my Abba Father.

James 4:8 tells us that if we come near to God He will come near to us.

I find myself crawling up on my Father’s lap and holding His face in my hands, as I stop everything to look into His eyes. I am sure that you can find Him, too, in whatever stillness you can offer. Maybe your gift is five minutes in the morning or two hours when you find yourself awake at three a.m. I know that if we want to be where He is we need to seek Him out.

These are sure and true words. Jeremiah 29:13: “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

So what is the seeking and what do we find?

The seeking is sacrifice. The seeking is a sacrifice of time. It is a sacrifice of our personal interests. Maybe it’s even a sacrifice of productivity or “accomplishment”. It could be a sacrifice of cleanliness and order. Oh the many sacrifices we could make to give time to the God of all creation. I am the first to admit that I am selfish and very stingy with my time. There are demands on me that don’t stop from the time I raise my head off my pillow until I gently rest it there again. On my own strength I would choose to watch TV over praying, every time. Fortunately, we don’t have to rely on our own strength. We can rest knowing that God, in all his power, will give us the strength to find him.

Jeremiah 3:22: “Return, O faithless sons, I will heal your faithlessness. Behold, we come to You; For You are the LORD our God."

And what do we find?

Psalm 65:4: “How blessed is the one whom You choose and bring near to You To dwell in Your courts. We will be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, Your holy temple.”

We find ourselves completely satiated. We find that we don’t hunger or thirst. We find peace that surpasses all understanding and wisdom that rings truth at our core. We find green pastures and quiet waters. We find revelations that bring answers to our questions. We find light that replaces all our darkness.

For this, I let go of my will. For this, I let God’s strength carry me to set time aside especially for the gift.