I have written fifteen sentence and erased each one. Sometimes I sit here and have some brilliant flash of inspiration and other times I have nothing at all. Looking out at the mall corridor and watching the rain falling outside the big windows at the end of the hallway, my mind is distracted by the vintage 80s soft rock I can hear from the overhead speakers in the mall, and the sounds behind me of the team in IHOP right now. On Wednesdays, I have to mind the front desk but it gives me a good opportunity to write.
Yesterday as I was driving down the bypass, I stuck in an old CD by Tom Ward. It was a project that he was working on years ago and he gave me a copy of it. The title song is Heart of the Son, and it is about listening to the voice of the Lord.
In the silence of your room
In the beauty of the moon
In the freshness of the dew, when the day is still new…
In your quiet times be still
I will let you know my will
When you listen to the heart of the Son.
I often wish that I was more of a morning person because I so much enjoy those moments before the day has begun when I can walk in the morning sunrise and experience the day beginning. There was a time when I was waking up every morning at 5:30 and taking walks through the woods in the trails and just spending time being with the Lord. I miss those days because I know the truth of that verse that says, “Those who seek me early shall find me” (Prov. 8:17). When you begin the day by centering yourself, seeking the Lord and communing with Him, it sets the tone for your entire day. I enjoy standing on the beach at sunset and watching the sun play across the waves and seeing the day close with a beautiful show. The Lord speaks to me so often through His creation and brings such peace during those moments as well. Those are the quiet times where I can “quiet down my busy mind,” as the song says, and find that place where I can truly listen to the Lord. It’s such a challenge for me because my mind tends to run at full tilt during my waking hours. Trying to quiet it and be still before Him is so difficult. But it’s essential. It takes discipline. He will speak. He really will.