Returning, resting, listening

          "And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He departed and went out to a desolate place, and there He prayed." (Mark 1:35)
           After an unimaginably full day of preaching, healing, and casting out demons that stretched from morning till far into the night, Jesus arose early the next morning.  In the predawn darkness, He went to a desolate location to commune with and enjoy His Father.
           If that's what the King of Kings and Creator of the universe needed to do to be refilled and revived, why on earth would we--little frail dust people--assume we'd need any less?  No wonder we stumble in exhaustion...or droop in discouragement...or blow up in frustration.
          We're human beings not human doings, yet we rush madly about like the energizer bunny:  going, and going, and going...until we drop.  If Jesus needed that restorative time-out and time alone with His Father, how much more do we need it?
           It's really something: we need that time with our Heavenly Daddy most desperately, yet we allow all sorts of interruptions, busyness, distractions, pleasures, and even plain old laziness to divert us from that which is most vital, important, life-giving, and joy-sustaining.  "Prone to wander, Lord I feel it.  Prone to leave the Lord I love."  That's me--prone to rushing, prone to accomplishing, prone to wasting time, prone to doing and doing and doing...rather than pausing to savor the Savior, treasure the Treasure, and love the life-giving Lord.
          James says, "let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger." (James 1:19).  Yes, this refers to the importance of our listening to others more than speaking ourselves (hence God gave us two ears but only one mouth!).  But, James was also--even primarily--emphasizing here that we need to be quick to listen to God.  If we want to know and love the Lord better, if we want to experience His peace, hope, and joy, if we want to grow wiser, if we want to be encouraged and equipped by the omnipotent Lord, well then, we need to spend far more time listening to God in His Word rather than blabbing away ourselves!
          I love these words of Thomas Aquinas: "I charge you to be slow to speak and slow to frequent places where men talk.  Embrace cleanness of conscience.  Be constant in prayer.  Love to dwell in your inner room if you would penetrate into the inner room of your Beloved."
          Thank You, Father, for the priceless gift of entering into the inner room with You.  It is there we find restoration.  It is there we find renewal and recovery.  It is there our Redeemer once again revives our weary hearts and refuels our empty spirits.  As we sit quietly with You, listening, You speak.  And Your Word is hope.  Your Word is joy.  Your Word is Truth.  Your Word is Life.
           Might we slow down, quiet down, and listen.  
          “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.” (Isa.30:15)  As we return and rest, please revive us again, Father.  To God be the glory.