Be Still and Know

Sometimes I think that word "desert" in our Christian lives becomes intimidating. Like, the thought of not being on that Spiritual high where you get the bubbly feeling every time you here the name, "Jesus" is un-Christian-like. It shouldn't happen. We should always be on top of the world!




Here's the deal: that's not reality.

Reality is:
We are imperfect people created by a perfect God. 
We are a finite people constantly trying to comprehend an infinite God. 
We are physical beings trying to be "one" with a celestial God. 


The problem isn't being in the desert; it's how you respond to the heat. 
In other words: not being on a spiritual high is not a problem; it's what you do with those feelings. 




During the great Exodus into the promised land in the Old Testament, there was a period of time Moses was on top of Mount Sinai with the glory of God. Literally, with Gods glory. While he was in the presence of the Lord, all the people told Aaron (Moses's partner) to "come, and make them gods."

Why?

They were impatient. They didn't want to wait on the Lord, so they took matters into their own hands.

That is so often the problem we have as Christians today. We are constantly are being told that we are strong enough people to do things on our own. So when we aren't getting an answer from God during the time we choose, then we stop listening and start acting on our own strength and will. And that is dangerous. 

Psalm 37:7 says, "Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways and when they carry our their wicked schemes." It goes on to say in "...a little while the wicked will be no more."


Times of being impatient and in a Spiritual struggle will come.
We are promised "...trials of many kinds." (James 1:2)

When they come, however, will you still seek after the Lord?

God is who He was yesterday and He will be the same tomorrow.
He is consistant.
He never leaves.
Never turns an ear.
And never regrets the Cross.

Christ died for us. He died so that during the times of solitude there is still a way to the Lord.

"Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I wil fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." 

Psalm 23:4

Be joyful in seeking the Lord in the valley.

It's not a matter of avoiding the desert times.
It's about your faithfulness in waiting patiently upon the Lord, for HE alone is good.

"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

Willingness For A Cost

Sometimes I take a step back and look at the world and all the people and I'm astonished.
I'm absolutely taken aback by the destruction in people's lives.

I mean, there is more pain than I can even understand.
People with addictions they have been battling with for years upon year.
People who feel unworthy and lonely enough to contemplate taking their own life.
People who are mourning the loss of their child, parent or friend.

It's too much.
I can't help but wonder why.

It wasn't until a short time ago this answer became clear as day to me.

It goes like this: 
Only 8% of the American population claim to never or mostly never go to Church. Eight percent.
There is also 44% of American's who say that they are regular Church attenders, they qualify as our Churched people of America.

What's astounding to me about those statistics is the fact that it is constantly moving in the wrong direction. The 8% of people who never attend Church is growing rapidly. The faster this group of people grow, the more hurt and destructive behavior that is going to spiral out of control eventually leading to an eternity apart from Christ; that is simply a fact of people who don't live by the Grace of Christ: their lives are the opposite of graceful. Yet, more and more people get sucked into that sort of lifestyle.

Why is that? 
In the Church today, all 44%, there is an unwillingness. There's a huge lack of people willing to make a difference in the world. Far to often in the Churches is the sense of feeling comfortable. Families get cozy being in the front row every Sunday and putting a twenty dollar bill into the offering plate. They would call themselves Christinas, possibly even give themselves the title of a 'follower of Christ.' As far as they're concerned, life is good and God is good.

That is so incredibly dangerous. 
Because if you were to ask that family to provide for the poor and care for the needy, they would come up with an excuse that would keep them safe inside their Christian bubble life.

That is most Christians today.
No one is willing and no one see's the deep urgency for true Love to be spread throughout all the earth.

Jesus says in Matthew that "the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few."

Are you willing to give it all for the sake of the harvest?
The cost of being a disciple is high. There is no promise for a comfortable life that will lead to the fulfilling American dream with a great retirement plan. There is no promise for happiness by the worlds standards.

But there is promise for fulfillment in Christ.
There is a promise that costed the actual life of Jesus that says we can be His if we are willing.


There is so much pain in this world that gets ignored because the Church is too busy focusing inward.
Step outside into the real world.
Having the eyes of Christ has the ability to change the momentum of the world.

The Spirit lives in us.
The same power that conquered the grave lives in us!
We have the ability to turn eyes and hearts to the only One with a worthwhile promise!




Christ is bigger and that can't be taken lightly; eternity is at stake.
Be willing to make that message known.

"Salvation is found in no one else, fo there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12