Lord, I Want to Love You Like My Cat Loves Me

“One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: 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 seek him in his temple.”

               - Psalm 27:4

My cat loves me.

Actually, he’s not my cat. He is our daughter’s cat. But, alas, she has gone to the far ends of the earth (Montana) to study for her Master’s in Social Work, and she was unable to take the cat with her. So the cat – Ray – temporarily belongs to Carol and me.

But I’m the one that Ray loves.

I’m not bragging about it. It just happens that Ray chose me as the one he looks to for provision, and friendship, and comfort. 

He greets me when I wake up in the morning, quickly settling on my lap as I try to read my Bible and drink my coffee. 

When I take a nap on the couch, he tries to get as close to my face as he can.

Sometimes when I am getting ready for work, Ray follows me around the house; and if I stop in the middle of the room, he will reach up and ask me to hold him. 

It’s pretty cute, really. And endearing.

It makes me wonder, though: Do I look to God with the same passion and devotion that my cat has for me? Do I seek to rest in God’s presence with my whole being? Is it the longing of my heart to be held in the hands of the One who provides for me and cares for me eternally?

The psalmist – probably King David – only asks for one thing: “to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of [his] life.” Of all the things that David could’ve asked for – wealth, happiness, power… – he simply asked to dwell in God’s presence. 

Actually, that’s been the chief desire of the human heart since the third chapter of Genesis, when the first humans hid from God in shame. We’ve wanted nothing more than to be restored to fellowship with God. As Augustine said, “My heart was restless until it found its rest in thee, O God.”

And so nowadays when Ray crawls up and imposes himself onto my lap, it makes me say a quick prayer: “Lord, I want to love you with the same passion and devotion that Ray loves me.”

One thing I ask of the Lord, this one thing I seek…

What’s your one thing?

(Another) Prayer for Monday

"Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation." (Mark 16:15) 

"And this is [God's] commandment, that we should believe in the name of his son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he commanded us." (1 John 3:23)

(Another) Prayer for Monday

Good morning, Lord.

It's Monday again. Happens every week, so it seems.

I have to admit,
 part of me wants to stay in the weekend.
The weekend wasn't long enough -- 
  it's always over to quickly.

Part of me wants to stay in the weekend.
But my heart has other plans.

I determine to live faithfully for you.
I determine to be the very best (fill in the blank)
  that I can be, for you.

In my heart, I want to love you with my whole being,
  and love my neighbor as myself.

In my heart, I want to proclaim the good news
  through the way I live --
    through my words,
      through my actions,
        through my relationships.

You have commanded me to go into all the world
  and proclaim the good news to the whole creation.

You have commanded me to believe in the name 
    of Jesus Christ my Savior,
      and to love those whose paths intersect with mine.

I pray that the desires of my heart
  will match your desire for me.

In my heart, I commit to obey your commands.
Not out of guilt or fear,
  but because I love you.
I love you, and I want my life to honor you.

It's Monday, and while part of me wants to stay in the
      weekend,
  my heart has other plans.
I have a whole new week ahead of me.
I give it to you, Lord.
Here am I... Send me.