# Intimacy Day 3 > Come to Stillness: Take a few minutes to allow your mind and heart to be still before God. ### Opening Prayer: *O God, who existed before all things, draw near to my heart today as I draw near to yours. Grant that as we are together during this time—as well as this day—I will know of your presence to the very core of my being. Let me experience the intimacy with you that I was created for. In the name of Jesus, the Word made flesh. Amen. (JLB)* #### Psalm for the Week: Psalm 131 #### I Have Calmed and Quieted My Soul #### A Song of Ascents. Of David. *131 O Lord, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high;I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. 2 But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me.3 O Israel, hope in the Lord from this time forth and forevermore.* #### Scripture for the Day: Psalm 139 #### Search Me, O God, and Know My Heart #### To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. *139 O Lord, you have searched me and known me! 2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up;you discern my thoughts from afar.3 You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways.4 Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.5 You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.* *6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.* *7 Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence?8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!9 If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,10 even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.* *11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,”12 even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.13 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb.14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.[a]Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.* *16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance;in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!18 If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you.19 Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God! O men of blood, depart from me!20 They speak against you with malicious intent; your enemies take your name in vain.[b]21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord? And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?* *22 I hate them with complete hatred; I count them my enemies.23 Search me, O God, and know my heart!Try me and know my thoughts![c]24 And see if there be any grievous way in me,and lead me in the way everlasting![d]* #### Reading for Reflection: *God dwells within you. You are yourself the tabernacle, his secret hiding place. Rejoice, exult, for all you could possibly desire, all your heart’s longing is so close, so intimate as to be within you; you cannot be without him. ~John of the Cross* *Smile by Jim Branch* *a sweet sweet song filled with love and affection sung with a tender caress my song to you the love of my heart whispered softly in your ear to bring a smile to your lips but then a change a turn of the tables you spin it around and let me know the song is yours sung constantly over me you pull me close take me to yourself sing tenderly in my ear the song of songs now the smile belongs to me* #### Reflection and Listening: silent and written #### Prayer: for the church, for others, for myself #### Song for the Week: Draw Me Close to You *Draw me close to You never let me go* *I lay it all down again* *To hear You say that I'm Your friend* *You are my desire no one else will do* *'Cause nothing else could take Your place* *To feel the warmth of Your embrace* *Help me find the way bring me back to You* *You're all I want* *You're all I've ever needed* *You're all I want* *Help me know You are near* ### Closing Prayer *Lord you are my Lover, it is you whom I desire. You flow through my body like a stream, you shine on my face like the sun. Let me be your reflection.~St. Mechthildis*