As I opened up Seek God for the City to today’s reading, God drew my attention to the bottom of the page where it says “Seeking God for…Women”. The minute I read that line I began praying for a friend who spent nine agonizing days in the hospital after a blood clot traveled from her leg to her heart and exploded depositing hundreds of smaller clots into her lungs.
Late one afternoon we went to see her and she told us of the trials she had been through while there in the hospital. During our conversation she admitted that she never prayed for herself because she did not feel worthy enough, but something had changed while there. She knew she needed God’s healing touch and she has been reaching out to him daily.
Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.”
I looked at her and reminded her that because of Christ’s sacrifice she is worthy and that she should never think any other way. She is God’s child and He loves her. When we left, my wife and I both gave her a hug and it was then that the Holy Spirit whispered to her through me, “You are worthy, never forget that.”
It definitely took some time for me to get back on track after reliving that moment in time. Then I began reading the rest of today’s prayer and I was struck again by what I read. “In the fog and frenzy of too-busy living, we hear the distant sound of Your voice calling, life muffled background noise.” I cannot tell you the number of times I have wished for we could just slow down.
Today, almost every where you look, you see someone on their cell phone or other mobile device talking, texting, emailing, on the Internet, or playing games. I am just as bad. How many of us can remember a time recently when we left our cell phone and turned around and went back to get it even though it might have made us late? Sadly, I have. It is not just cell phones. Cable or satellite TV with the hundreds of channels and video games occupy large blocks of our time. Throw into the mix the kids who are in sports and the practices and games during the season, not to mention the leagues that require more practice and more games, and we really do enter into “the fog and frenzy of too-busy living.”
Where does our time with our families happen? In the 10 minutes we have to eat a quick dinner at a fast food place? As we are rushing past one another while we get ready for work or school? In the few minutes before we go to bed? I have to wonder if this has anything to do with families who are daily falling apart. I know that is what, in part, led to the implosion of my first marriage and had God not intervened, I would be in that same position now. I thank God every day for my wife and the relationship we not only share, but continually grow in. God’s intervention was not between my wife and I, it was between me and Him. When God allowed the scales to fall from my eyes I was then able to seek Him more earnestly. Everything else that happened was directly related to that moment. I realized that life wasn’t all about money and getting ahead no matter what it took. The relationship that I continue to develop with God is what guides and directs the way I live my life. I now know that if I lose sight of Him, everything else will go back to be foggy and in a frenzy. God “desires to enfold us in the same love He has for His Son.”
Even though our friend spent nine days in the hospital and now will be off work for another month, she seized the opportunity to step out of the “fog and frenzy” so she could “Seek God’s Face”. She knows she will get through this time with God’s help.
Father, I pray that we do not need a wake up call for our hearts to desire You. Remind us daily to step out of the “fog and frenzy” of our lives so we can seek Your face. Amen.
Terry Van Wyk
Hus Church
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