Today in my weekly devotional at work, we talked about Scriptural Memorization... And I shared how we are to memorize scriptures because we are required to always be ready with an answer (I Peter 3:15)...
Well today I just wanted to encourage you that feel as if you are in limbo that God has not forgotten you... One of the strangest feelings that you can have (especially in ministry) is the nagging thought that you are not where you belong, as if you are adrift and unattached from God's will for your life. Be encouraged that this process of being "out there", although it seems to be against everything we believe about the Body of Christ, is a part of God's will for your life. The proof is in the word of God. Before Jesus started his earthly ministry, the Bible declares that God affirmed Christ publically and then just when you would think he would be able to do great things, he was led BY THE SPIRIT into the wilderness to deal with the devil. And according to scripture he was there for 40 days with no support - no food, no friends, who would understand, nothing but him - and the devil... And for many of you who are waiting on God to fulfill His promises to you that is how you feel also - alone with the devil looming... And the crazy thing is that the devil is not attacking you, you just feel him there like a vulture circling over you waiting for you to get weak enough that he can devour you without much effort because the devil did not truly attack Jesus until he was hungry... The devil sees that you have entered the wilderness and knows that you were led there by the Spirit, but he is not interested in you until you reach a level where you are grasping for something... And then he dangles a form of what you want in front of you but puts stipulations on it that make it clear that it is not God.
So like Jesus while you are going through this wilderness experience, you must bring the Word of God to your remembrance and declare boldly that God supplies your every need (and not just say it but look around and notice that He IS doing it!) because he is the one who gives you your sustenance (man shall not live by bread alone), then recognize that God alone is worthy of worship and that any power or glory that comes from any other source has no eternal weight in glory... and finally accept and declare God's plan for you is greater than any trick of the enemy... And once you have made that declaration you will find that ANGELS will minister to you...
You are in the right place at the right time to receive a blessing from the Lord... EVEN IF THAT PLACE IS A DESERT PLACE...!
Thanks, Flow!! This is pretty much where I'm at...thought I'd share a little more along those same lines that I was really feeling God say to me a few weeks ago.
[I am trying hard to think of these next few weeks as a gift. As a renewal of me, emotionally and spiritually. I am "between ministry positions," hopefully not long enough to leave a ministry gap wide enough to sail a cruise ship through.
Yesterday, after being officially done at _______, I thought I would have boundless energy - motivation to pack, to work on some sorely neglected projects, wash dishes, clean the house, etc. I thought that since the albatross that was my church was gone from my life, I would experience lightness like I never had before, and would be able to "do" more - maybe even some intense prayer and fasting to seek God's direction for my next move in life.
Instead, I left work 1/2 hour early completely exhausted. I came home, took the dog out, ate some pasta, and curled up in front of the tv with a big comforter. I woke up an hour and a half later, ate some more (including some cocoa and those chocolate chip cookies that you buy already formed and all you have to do is pop a couple in the toaster oven!), and then settled in front of the computer for awhile, surfing the sites I felt like surfing, listening to showtunes, etc.
At about 9:30 pm, Cubby came up to me giving me her, "Um...mommy...I don't want to disturb you, but I kind of have to go potty," tentative kisses and pathetic puppy-dog eyes. As I took her out for the second time that night, the story of Elijah popped into my head. After he had his huge victory at Mt. Carmel showing the power of God to all the prophets of Baal, Jezebel put a death order on his head. He deflated, became depressed, and disappeared into the wilderness.
Instead of being angry with Elijah, God sent ministering angels to him. He let His prophet sleep. When he woke up, there was food. And he ate. Then he slept again. He regained his strength. And then was ready to go back and tell Jezebel that God had a death order on HER head if she didn't repent.
For the past year, I have likened my "problem person" at church to Jezebel. I have decried the "whiny Elijah" in the wilderness, preferring instead to become the victorious Elijah who was so anointed, that Elisha wanted a double portion of it before he was caught up in a whirlwind to heaven.
I realized last night that God understands the whiny Elijahs, too! He understands that there are times in our lives when we just need to retreat. Elijah didn't spend his time in the wilderness being "spiritual," or fasting and praying, or doing anything to help his cause. He just ate and slept and let God minister to him in a practical manner.
As the song goes that Pastor Dave used to sing all the time, "It's not in trying, but in trusting; it's not in running, but in resting; it's not in wandering, but in praying, that we find the strength of the Lord."
And as I drifted off to sleep for the night, I could almost feel the angels tucking me in, and my Lord and Savior whisper to me, "Just sleep. I'm on top of it!"]
I still don't know where I'm going, but I know God is with me. And that He is not going to hang me out to dry!
Thank you for this word, Flow. You're right on time as usual. Great insight.
I miss your comments here on the board. I know things have been CRAZY for you since moving to NY. I hope things are settling for you. Please keep in touch with us.
