Thursday, April 28, 2011
Building People of Substance for Works of Power
You are not alone, me and tobie.
Every now and then I try to get away for a day or two just to pray and wait on God. On my most recent excursion I was fasting and praying. I spent hours in the Word. It was great to just hang out with the Lord. As is my habit, I made notes to myself as things occurred to me. One of my notes said this: “The hardest thing for me is trying not to call Judy when I am supposed to be taking time away.” I realized that every time I had a thought, or the Lord spoke to me about something, my first impulse was to call my wife and tell her. We are on the north side of 30 years of marriage. During those years, we have worked together most of the time. It is unusual to go more than an hour or two without talking. Talking to Judy is a habit. When we have a fight, I have to get it right. I hate being in the same house but on different planets, still married but not intimate. It’s just lonesome
When I wrote that little note to myself, I realized I had caught a glimpse of something really important. We always tell folks that Christianity is not a religion, it’s a relationship; a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. As with many things in life, it is often easier to regurgitate the platitude than it is to explain it or to live it. The wonder of my experience with the Lord is that He is personal to me. I can talk to Him. My first impulse in any situation is to say something to the Lord about it. I am used to His Presence. He is always there, and I know it. I expect Him to speak to me when I’m befuddled, to gently nudge me in the right direction when I get off track, and to hold me up when I am staggered. When I do something dumb that I know is offensive to Him, I can’t wait to ask Him to forgive me. I detest the sense that He is grieved with me. It is not enough to be in His house, I want to be close enough to whisper and know He hears me. It is a life of constant contact, real intimacy.
Scripture Reading: And we know that the Son of God has come, and He has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and He is eternal life. Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts. (1 John 5:20-21 NLT)
Somebody Said: "If, in this life, we might enjoy the peace of paradise, we must accustom ourselves to a familiar, humble, and affectionate conversation with God." … Brother Lawrence
Talking to the Lord is a habit to be cultivated. Practicing the awareness of His Presence is the difference between a Sunday nod to God and a vital walk with a Savior-Friend. God is with you, get used to Him.
pastorvirgil.com 