By Ann Hutchison
Last week I watched the funeral, online, of a man of God. This man's wife was in ministry with him. They ran a church together.
Perhaps this man was a little like King David. He left a fascinating legacy. But there was one phrase that stuck with me out of the whole funeral. His wife said this:
"You know, his relationship with God was intensely private."
I was surprised by this statement. I wonder if he even kept some of his 'God' stuff private from his wife?
As SUMites, we want to share our relationship with God with our spouse so badly; but what if it's just as good, or even better, to have a relationship with God that is intensely private?
With that in mind, let’s consider Psalm 27. I have bolded some of the statements that speak to me of being private with God:
The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?
When evildoers assail me
to eat up my flesh,
my adversaries and foes,
it is they who stumble and fall.
Though an army encamp against me,
my heart shall not fear;
though war arise against me,
yet I will be confident.
One thing have I asked of the Lord,
that will I seek after:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord
and to inquire in his temple.
For he will hide me in his shelter
in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
he will lift me high upon a rock.
And now my head shall be lifted up
above my enemies all around me,
and I will offer in his tent
sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make melody to the Lord.
Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud;
be gracious to me and answer me!
You have said, “Seek my face.”
My heart says to you,
“Your face, Lord, do I seek.”
Hide not your face from me.
Turn not your servant away in anger,
O you who have been my help.
Cast me not off; forsake me not,
O God of my salvation!
For my father and my mother have forsaken me,
but the Lord will take me in.
Teach me your way, O Lord,
and lead me on a level path
because of my enemies.
Give me not up to the will of my adversaries;
for false witnesses have risen against me,
and they breathe out violence.
I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living!
Wait for the Lord;
be strong, and let your heart take courage;
wait for the Lord!
I'm not sure I need to say much more. What does it look like to be private with God? It's gazing upon his face, being under a cover with him, in a little bubble with him; it's telling him what he means to us.
For me, it's mainly about telling him everything I don't tell everyone else. It's about him being my soul-mate. I guess that's what King David had.
What do you think it looks like to be private with God?
Love,
Ann
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