I have just returned from a retreat at the Good Shepherd Oasis - refreshed and recharged by the Lord. I learn that as long as we stay still and wait on the Lord with an open heart, the Lord will speak. And as we take time to meditate on his word with our heart and mind, they get deep into our spirit and soul. His words become flesh. They transform us. 

The Lord and I spoke volumes to each other during my four day stay at the Oasis – a reflection of how famished I was for the Lord and how much the Lord wants to speak to me. I jotted down the words he spoke, giving no chance for my memory to trip me. I believe the Lord would like me to share parts of our conversation with my dear brothers and sisters. The Lord wants to bless them as well.

I will entitle this part of the conversation as “TODAY”.

It was early Sunday morning. I sat comfortably on a large round rattan chair in the living room. I said, “Dear Lord, please help me to live today to the full. Let me enjoy today.”

The Lord replied, “You have entered into eternity with me when you gave your life to me. I have come to dwell in your heart. My Kingdom has come. Each day is the journey in eternity. Enjoy eternity - enjoy each day which is called ‘today’.”

I quipped, “Oh Lord, this sounds like a theology lesson. Can you please explain and make it simpler.”

I thought to myself, “So death is just one of the many events in the journey of eternity. It is like turning into another path, another event, in the everlasting road. Ah, I see that mother has turned into another path on that day which is called ‘today’.” (She passed away not too long ago.)

Then the Lord brought my wondering mind back to himself. He explained, “A constant and deep awareness of my presence is the enjoyment of eternity. Enjoy my presence.”

He paused for a moment and continued, “But, you are always in a hurry and in a rush. When you have learnt to slow down and stay still, you will have a deep sense that I am in you and all around you. You will see me, touch me and hear me with your heart.”

I replied, “Lord, I can especially sense your presence during devotion, worship and in a silent retreat. But, I sometimes do not feel your nearness when I am struggling with a problem at work, at home or with relationships. My mind is plagued with issues and my heart with anxieties. Besides, when I am hurting or grieving in my heart, I feel very alone in the suffering.”

The Lord replied, “When you are walking through a dark valley, I understand that you will feel lonely or troubled. You may not feel that I am right beside you and walking with you. But, I am in fact constantly protecting you with my rod and guiding you with my staff. I fence off harm and danger that confront you. I prevent you from falling into a pit or turning into a wrong path, through circumstances or people. I gently move you into the right path and into safety by opening up opportunities or from advice of people. You can see the works of my hand, even though you may not sense that I am walking with you.”

The Lord paused for a while and continued, “The time will come when you will be out of the dark valley. Troubled situations will somehow turn out right in the end, sometimes miraculously. You will look back and thank me for my goodness and mercies. But, I want you to learn to stay still and thank me from the start and also throughout the valley journey. Take time to tell me your woes. Take time to release your anger. Take time to cry. You will then sense that I am ever so near to you, because I incline my ears to your cry. You will be comforted by my presence. You will enjoy eternity in the midst of darkness in the valley. You will enjoy each day which is called ‘today’.”

I closed my eyes and prayed with gratitude, “Dear Lord, I thank you. You have spoken to my heart. It is your presence that I will seek after everyday with my whole heart. By your grace, I will learn to enjoy eternity from today and each day which is called ‘today’.”

For the rest of the day, I found myself singing this song in my heart :
“Heavens come down and glory fills my soul.
And at the cross my Saviour makes me whole.
My sins are washed away.
The night has turned to day.
Heavens come down and glory fills my soul.”