“Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”

Psalm 46:10 NIV

Yesterday I flew home from Minneapolis. I had spent the past four days at the ACFW writers conference. The conference is an event that I look forward to every year. Not only is this a place to connect with other writers who understand the voices in my head, but it’s also a place for me to connect with God.

I boarded the plan and sat in the very last row of the aircraft, which was a first. It’s noisier by the tail. My seatmate was a friendly, older woman. She asked me basic questions about where I lived, did I have family, etc. When I told her my husband was coming to pick me up at the airport, she asked how long of a drive we had. I told her we were three hours from the airport. She was surprised because she vacations in the state above ours and said it takes her three hours to get to her summer destination. I reminded her we had to travel some two-lane roads, watch for deer, and drive through fog. She replied, “Not to mention getting behind Sunday drivers.”

Her comment reminded me of times in my youth when I went home with my grandparents after church. After lunch, Grandma would get in the driver’s seat, Grandpa would get in the passenger’s seat, and I would climb in the back. Grandma never drove fast, even when she drove on the highways. She drove down our country road, over nearby hills, and about an hour or two, we’d return to my grandparents’ dairy farm. Those are fond memories because during the drive we focused on the glorious sights given to us by our Creator. We soaked up the rich lushness of the multi-colored landscape.

Do people take Sunday drives these days? Increased gas prices prevent many from wasting the gas. Busy schedules prevent some from being pulled away from their activities.

Are we the same way with God? Do we feel we’re too busy to take that Sunday drive with God? Are we afraid of wasting our precious time? I’m so guilty of getting caught up in my busy schedule that I don’t take the necessary time with God for a Sunday drive through my life. God wants those first moments of our day. He wants to hear from us, but He wants us to stop and listen to Him. We can hear His voice in the gentle sway of the wind, the birds’ singing, or through the encouragement of a friend.

Even though we’re all busy and hate to waste time, take time daily to stop and listen to what God may be saying to your heart.