“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” 2 Corinthians 4:16
When is the last time you had a distraction free, one on one dinner with someone? My mom and stepdad have a scheduled date night once a week. It’s one night of the week that they intentionally set aside time for just the two of them to go out to eat. I love hearing the joy in my mother’s voice every time she exclaims, “It’s date night!” over the phone. Though my stepdad doesn’t mention these so called “date nights” to me very often, I could imagine that they mean just as much to him as they do to my mom.
I don’t know about you, but I can hardly wrap my head around the fact that Thanksgiving week is here. Last I knew, it was August and I was sitting on the shore of Lake Tahoe. I had woken up to the birds chirping and the sun rising above the mountain ridge line and shining through the mesh of my tent. I made my way to my favorite picnic table on the water’s edge, pulled out my journal and my Bible and began what had been my morning routine for much of the summer.
I was well aware that I was in a season of rest and as they say, “all good things must come to an end.” And to an end, it did come.
Mid-August through today have passed in the blink of an eye.
I was gently reminded of how much has happened in the past few months when a friend called me earlier this week and said, “ Where are you now? You have been all over the country recently”. He wasn’t wrong. From the shoreside on Lake Tahoe, my journey has carried me to Mississippi, North Carolina, Nevada, California, Colorado, Ohio, Kentucky, back to North Carolina and beyond.
I briefly thought through this map in my head and then replied, “I’m exhausted.”
That was me on Monday. Exhausted.
I was physically tired, socially overloaded, emotionally dry, mentally drained, and the gas light for my spiritual tank had been on for many days. I had still been spending time in God’s Word each morning and felt that I was being led by the Holy Spirit each day. I had still been seeing God’s hand in so many of the details along the way and had been nurturing the relationships with my Brothers and Sisters in Christ as much as was possible.
But at the same time, it felt as though I only had enough in my tank to get me through my day. I felt like there wasn’t even an extra drop at the end of the day nor a drop to spare for someone else.
On Monday I began training for a new position. I was in a classroom with ten other women; ten women with incredible hearts for the Lord. For the past few years, the Lord has been consistent in reminding me that every crossing of paths has been orchestrated by Him and that we are simply to walk forward in making the most of every interaction. In the journey that the Lord has paved out for me, I always try to make the most of the time that I am given with people face to face, because I never know when that opportunity may come again. However, on Monday, one of the women suggested the group going to lunch together and without remark I politely slid out of the room and headed out on my own for the lunch hour.
For a moment, I felt bad. I felt like I wasn’t maximizing the opportunity that the Lord had placed before me. I felt like I wasn’t walking forward in making the most of these interactions that He had so perfectly orchestrated. After getting my food and finding my place in the sun, a peace washed over me. I needed to be alone. I needed the silence. I needed to be still.
For the remainder of Monday and throughout the next day, I spent my time outside of training hours alone. I spent a lot of time outside. Breathing in the fresh fall mountain air. Running through leaf-coated trails, around small ponds, and along flowing rivers. Strolling through the city park with a warm beverage from the local coffee shop in my hand.
Tuesday night, after a long and beautiful run on the mountainside, I decided it was time for a date with Jesus. I cleaned up, grabbed my purse, a book, a notepad, a pen and headed out the door. After asking the woman at the hotel desk for a local dinner recommendation, I headed into the village and made my way to a table for one.
Have you ever gone to a restaurant to have dinner by yourself? If you haven’t, no matter what stage of life you are in, I want to highly recommend that you do so.
A few years ago I was advised to do the same and I do recall feeling quite awkward on my maiden voyage. However, over the past few years I have actually grown to thoroughly enjoy the experience of dining alone and that was only more greatly reinforced on Tuesday night.
I was immediately met by the kindness of my waitress and a few smiles from the older couple at the next table over. Throughout the next hour or so, I rested in the joy of the Lord. I read a short story in the book that I’ve slowly been working through. I took my time eating the meal that had been prepared for me as I jotted down pieces and parts of my prayers in the notepad that I had brought along. It was the first time that I had simply slowed down and tuned into the things around me in a while.
As I walked out of the restaurant that night, I noticed that there were many tables set for two, yet I had been seated at a table for four. Today, as I have written this out, I have come to realize that it was likely by no mistake that there was not one, but three empty chairs at my table. Though it may have appeared rather empty to everyone else, I believe that those chairs where full, for it was by way of those three empty chairs that I felt completely embraced by the fullness of God; God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
Wednesday morning, I awoke rejuvenated. I woke up physically well-rested, socially ready to go, emotionally refreshed, mentally clear, and spiritually overflowing… and that was before my quiet time with the Lord!
And guess what?! The rest of the week, I was able to make the most of the opportunities that the Lord had placed before me out of the fullness of my spiritual tank. I was able to reconnect with a dear friend face to face and I was able to begin nurturing relationships with those ten godly women that sat around my table on Monday morning.
I learned a valuable lesson this week and I hope that you can find encouragement in these words as well. I was reminded that we need to take time to sit alone with the Lord, at the table set for four, before we can fully embrace our spots at the table in which every chair is filled. Even more so I learned that we need to be intentional in showing up for our reservation at His table as often as possible.
My mom and my stepdad have a date night every single week. They didn’t stop being intentional about time together after their first date or even their first few dates. In the same way, our taking a seat at the Lord’s table should not be a one time occurrence, nor something that happens every now and then, but a consistent time that we set aside for Him alone. It is okay to politely stand up from the table of this busy, full life and find your spot at the table set for four.
Friend, intentionally take a seat at the Lord’s table this week. Beyond your daily quiet time, set aside a block in your schedule to be completely alone with God.
If you have the opportunity to go eat or sit in a coffee shop alone with the Lord, do it! It is one thing to meet with Him in the comfort of your home, but there is something different about stepping away and having a one-on-one morning coffee or date night with the Lord. Embrace that opportunity! If that looks like going on a walk through the park or heading out on a long drive without a scheduled destination instead, go for it! If you are unable to physically step away, be intentional in waking up a little bit early or staying up a tad beyond your bedtime and invite the Lord to your table.
Regardless of your scenario, set aside the distractions, clear the chaos of your mind, and simply be present in those moments. Allow that time to refresh your Spirit and rejuvenate your heart.
I want to leave you with the same words that the Lord laid on my heart this week.
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NIV
Now, go schedule your date with the Lord!
