Come Away with Me

Arise, come, my darling; my beautiful one, come with Me.  SS 2:13

 

Mary…sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what He said…the Lord answered…”Only one thing is needed.  Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”  Lk. 10:39-42

 

When God asked me to give Him everything almost a year and half ago, He amazed me by Himself.  I was overwhelmed and awe-struck.  Worldly things lost their appeal.  They just could not compete.  I was swept off my feet, like a teenager in love for the first time.  He was all I could think about.  I didn’t care about eating or sleeping.  I was captivated, overwhelmed by God’s amazing, all-consuming love in a way that I had never felt before. 

 

I had desired Him for so long before that, the 19 years I was saved previously.  But I had allowed satan to deceive me so thoroughly into believing that God didn’t really love me very much, that I wasn’t acceptable to Him, and that I definitely couldn’t trust Him.  God shattered those lies, and his love overwhelmed and consumed me.

 

Since then, He has led me to write for Him, about my experiences with Him and my relationship with Him.  It is awesome and fulfilling, to have a purpose in Him, to be used by Him, but that, along with family, friends, and just having a busy schedule, are slowly taking my attention and my awe of Him away.

 

When He first amazed me so much a year and half ago, it was a piece of cake to put Him first.  I almost couldn’t not do that, His love was so overwhelming.  Now I think He’s teaching me to choose to put Him first, when there are so many other tempting choices, when it is a little bit harder.  He has matured me some, and so now my trials are a little harder.  But He also equips me to handle whatever He gives me.

 

This morning during my quiet time, I read my Jesus Calling devotional by Sarah Young:

 

“Come away with Me for a while.  The world with its nonstop demands can be put on hold…The longer people push Me into the background of their lives, the harder it is for them to find Me…I have called you to follow Me on a solitary path, making time alone with Me your highest priority and deepest Joy…as you walk close to Me, I can bless others through you.” (208)

 

Then I remembered what Louie Giglio wrote about a dry time in his relationship with God.  He talked about a promotion where 24 people were chosen to ride a roller coaster at Six Flags from 8 am to 1 am each day with occasional breaks.  Whoever rode the longest won a Jeep Wrangler.  Then he asked himself, “Would I seek Him for just one day from 8 am to 1 am?  Would I forsake family, work, ministry, life, comfort, pleasures, or agenda to pursue the Living God?” (Thirsty Journal, week 4)

 

Then God brought to mind that my parents are away for the next few days, and I am house sitting.  I think He wants me to go over there tomorrow evening until the next day, to have a retreat, just me and Him.  I can spend the time alone with Him, away from everything, hopefully allowing Him to captivate me once again.