Besides finding a good place to draw near to God, your “inner environment”, that is, your heart’s condition, is also very important: it needs to be quiet and peaceful. A peaceful heart doesn’t mean an empty heart, but a heart that is connected to Him and enjoys no barriers between you and Him. Besides listening to messages, we also need to put them to practice. When you behold the Lord, you also see that your heart is connected to His, and you can sense your own condition at the same time. If you feel something is not right, call to Him, “Lord save me,” and return to Him. Throughout the year, you should be heart to heart with the Lord, and also let Him deeply affect your heart. Then, you will be drawn by Him and will go from glory to glory. Your heart should continually be connected to His, and you should realize that you are before the whole Lord, who is in glory, everywhere and in your heart at the same time. So, when you direct your prayers to the Lord in glory, you also realize that the whole Lord is united to you in your heart.
For example, when you sing “Who Affects the Father the Most” or “Love Like a Rainbow”, there’s no need to think hard for new insight. Just enjoy the plain content in the hymns. You don’t need to burden yourself by thinking, “Oh, how should I meditate the song line by line.” The hymns are actually very much self-explanatory. The content is clear and easy to understand, unlike ancient literature. Although the content is direct and plain, it’s telling us the great and precious love of the Lord. Just enjoy the truths according to what you understand and realize.
When you sing, you are singing to the Lord. You should visualize His heart and love towards you. You only need to enjoy these truths and there’s no need to think so hard. We shouldn’t be looking for new insights, or worry that you are not thinking of the truths enough. This is not about writing a book report, but purely enjoying the truths. Take it as it is. Of course as you mature, you may start to see deeper into the meaning of the content. But for now, just take according to what you can. Enjoy the Lord that is described in the hymn. Your heart is towards Him as you sing. He is loving you as mentioned in the hymns. It’s that simple. Nevertheless, from time to time, you will often gain new insights as He opens your spiritual eyes and touches your heart. It comes very naturally because you are having fellowship with Him.
Hymns are a heavenly language. You are drawing near to Him. You are actually using the content of the hymns to behold Him. You are facing Him and beholding Him. The content from the hymns tell you more about the Lord you are currently drawing near to, and how He is loving you. Just enjoy Him. It is not complicated at all. There’s no need to think so hard. However, He will open your spiritual eyes, and new ideas will come. For me, it’s also very simple. When I respond to the Lord, I’m also enjoying the truths in my response. Your response is very natural. You don’t need to think of many words to say to Him. What is important is that you enjoy the Lord Himself. He is the Lord who is loving you as is described in the hymn, and you are before Him.
Enjoying the Lord doesn’t need many words. Enjoying Him simply means enjoying Him. Let Him open your eyes and lead you to understand more about whatever He wants you to know about Him. But it doesn’t come by you complicating things and thinking hard. Just enjoy the plain truth on its own, and that’s significant enough. Don’t think that it is too simplistic, because you are enjoying the Lord Himself. It should be simple. Even the words in the hymn will eventually disappear, and what is left is only you and Him, He is loving you in this way, and you and Him.
In the quiet time, it is not just being quiet, but your heart is enjoying the Lord who loves you. Your response is often very simple. You may pray, “Lord, I love you” or “Lord, I thank you.” Even without a word, you are responding to Him when you enjoy Him. When you treasure Him, this is already a response. Same when you are attracted to Him. This is our response without words. Even if there’s a verbal response, it can be very simple. It isn’t always just thinking over and over non-stop, or being full of many things in your “meditation”. But remember, it’s about the Lord Himself. He’s loving you and you are having fellowship with Him.
Since my youth, I’ve been enjoying the eternal Lord kissing my spirit. For over 60 years, it’s still unfrogettable, and it’s still affecting me. It isn’t just in the past, but until today, His love is still fresh. What the Song of Solomon says is true; what the Lord said the night before the cross was true: “Whoever has my commandments and keeps them…I will manifest myself to him.” (John 14:21) To me, for Him to manifest Himself to me means that He is kissing my spirit. Every day I give thanks to Him for these precious experiences. The Song of Solomon says, “Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! For your love is better than wine.” (Song 1:2) This is also true today: this eternal Lord, the Creator of all things, desires to live a love life with me. He not only kisses me but embraces me. You have experienced this also, and I want you to experience it more.
What the Bible describes is all true, and can be experienced! In fact, He desires us so much, to the extent that He asks us to have love interflow with Him. He said, “Let me see your face”: He wants to be face to face with you with no barrier. “Let me hear your voice.” (Song 2:14): Your voice can be verbal, or it can be the response in your heart. It is a love interflow, a fellowship. He leaves peace to us so that all these can come to pass.