Come. Sit…and Stay.

Indie and I just went for our backyard walk with God and as I was talking with God and thanking Him for this weekend, I asked Him what I was supposed to take away from it all. There was just so much, and as I neared the house, I turned around and Indie was nowhere to be seen.

I squinted and scanned the yard, then called her name.

Then there she was.

Full on sprinting towards me.

And the thought occurred, “If only I ran towards Jesus like that. I bet that’s the way He wants us to run towards Him…Without hesitation. Full on sprinting with enthusiasm, like, “Oh there you are!!!! I’ve been looking for you everywhere and here you are!!!!!!”

And then Indie did something that she normally doesn’t do and it wrapped the whole weekend together beautifully for me.

She sat.

Right at my feet.

That’s it.

And then she waited for me to say let’s go.

You get it?

On Sunday morning’s walk with God, I asked him what I had missed at conference or why I felt like I was missing it. The conference had been incredible, but I felt a little unsatisfied and then I felt guilty for feeling that way, so I decided to turn it.

So I asked God, “How do I get to know you better?”

God didn’t speak to me in my backyard, He just said wait.

Well apparently, He wanted Priscilla Shirer to give me His answer.

I kid you not, I don’t remember how her sermon started, but at some point near the beginning, she said, “Some of you want a word from God, a revelation, and are asking Him how to get to know Him better.”

Enter me about to fall out of my chair.

Seriously God? You’re going to use our conversation from this morning in her sermon? Today??? Okay. You’ve got my attention, You clearly want me to lean in and listen good.

So I did.

First and foremost, she said you have to know Jesus. If you happen to have watched my video from the other day, you know that this has been a stumbling block for me. Just like I said in that video, God can not love us fully unless we love His son.

So God went ahead and addressed that head on and got that out of the way for me. So I appreciated that and I’m on it.

But she used Jesus’ illustration of the shepherd and his flock and broke it down beautifully in a way I could relate to, which is such a gift. I get lost in lots of big words and theology. I need it simple and straightforward or my eyes glaze over.

Okay, back to her…

She spoke of the sheep and the shepherd’s relationship and how the sheep know the sound of their shepherd’s voice. I thought instantly of how my chickens will come running when I call to them, but they won’t for Justin. How strange, right? But they hear me and get so excited that they almost can’t contain themselves. They know my voice because I spend time with them aand talk to them.

Which is exactly what she spoke of next - the only way to know His voice is to spend time with Him. Read His word. Spend quiet time talking with Him. Get to know his character and His mannerisms through what is written about Him in the Bible (she didn’t say this, but I’ll say it - not what someone else has written about Him.)

She spoke passionately about abiding in Him and used an illustration of a friend who dips her tea bag in and out of the water instead of letting the tea bag seep in the water. That kind of tea is too strong for her friend, but that’s exactly the type of tea I want. I think it’s what we all want, we just don’t know how.

So this morning, when Indie came running full steam at me and then just sat at my feet, all I could do was say, “Thank you God.”

Thank you for the perfect illustration for me as to how I am to develop a relationship with you. I am to learn your voice and then listen for when you call . Obey and come running towards you with complete abandon. And then sit. Sit and wait until you reveal to me what you want me to do.

So come. Sit…and stay.

I think I can do that.