Busyness versus Intimacy

Busyness versus Intimacy

In June I talked about one of God’s highest priority for our lives is to have intimacy with us.

We can have an inward drive to have God as my highest priority for my life and yet it looks different on me.

Years ago, as a pastor, I realized I had fallen into a wrong thinking that if I was busy doing God’s stuff, that would be what be what measured my success.

I equated business with Godliness, which is WAY inaccurate.
In fact, Business Destroys Intimacy.

There is a crazy cycle that begins. I’m exhausted by all this good God stuff I am doing and wonder why I can’t seem to hear from God and feel His presence. So what is my answer? I try harder, become more busy.
After all – isn’t that what God wants from me? To use me for His glory?

Text: Isaiah 30:15

Wrongly I can equate rest and quietness with laziness and weakness.
But this invitation from our Father into His presence is probably the greatest productivity for my life that I can actually experience.

Often we get so much of our identity from what we do – what we believe we are good at, we miss the true understanding of our identity because it doesn’t come from Father.

So if our enemy can’t get me to wrong things, he will twist my thinking about this subject and I end up overextending myself in being busy with good things.
Then what happens is I get tired. Exhausted.

Fatigue can result in not believing God.
Because when I’m tired, my heart gets hardened to being sensitive to the Holy Spirit.
And I begin to be more vulnerable to the lies of my enemy and the lies of my heart being disappointed when I don’t see God moving in the activities I have given myself to.

In ver.18 Blessed are all those who wait for Him.
Isa 40:31 But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

Ver.21 “Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it," Whenever you turn to the right hand Or whenever you turn to the left.”

I think I can’t have this happening if I don’t listen to ver.15 – “…in returning and rest, in quietness and confidence…”

We love the scripture in Ex.14:13 where Moses told the people - "Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD…”
14 "The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace."
Hold your peace = be quiet – stop talking!

I think for myself, business causes friction to my heart and soul and that results in a callous that causes me to lose sensitivity to His presence or hear His voice.

Ps 23:2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures;

Ps 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God;

Mt 11:28-30"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."