JESUS & YOU – Don’t Forget To Be Part Of The Conversation

I have had the honour and pleasure of working through and coordinating several Lifecentre training/study initiatives. Every time we have reached the end of something – the ‘elephant in the room’ has always been the same:  OK, what now? And that question quickly branches out into a few obvious companion thoughts. How do I move forward? How do I continue my learning and growth? How do I now use/apply all that I have gained? You may be there right now as it gets closer to the end of the summer and you look ahead to the start of the new ministry year.

SPOILER ALERT!

I do not have an easy, one-size-fits-all answer to these questions (SORRY!).

However, I hope you will stay with me a bit longer to consider some thoughts I have received along my journey. I hope something here will help you better engage these questions with Jesus.

Let’s start by agreeing on a fundamental truth: Our learning and growing with JESUS never end! There is no end-of-the-line station for us to arrive at on this train ride of increasing faith. There is no final destination here on earth where we all disembark and are welcomed into total enlightenment and empowerment. If anything, the stations that occur along the way are more like stop-over points. At them, we can choose to depart from our journey to spend some time building specific points of our faith. But they are not designed for us to spend more than just the time needed to accomplish our required tasks. Inevitably, we are called to board the next train coming through and continue our journey.

So, for example, when our time at this season’s HEARTstromg “station” is complete and we await the next train’s arrival to jump on – it might be good to consider how we can optimize our natural curiosity of “What Next?”

As we travel further down the line on our faith journey, we recognize that there is much strength to be found in earnestly seeking God’s face. Time in prayer and time in the Word will ALWAYS be cornerstones of any conversation with God concerning support and guidance. There is a beautiful story in 2 Chronicles 20 where King Jehoshaphat, surrounded and besieged by several enemy armies, brought together elders and key folks from all around Judah “to seek the LORD’s help.” And in their honest and powerful pursuit of Him (through prayer and fasting), a divine deliverance came that was absolutely amazing. I encourage you to read (or re-read) the story to gain a fresh perspective on seeking the Father earnestly and the immense potential of His response.

Yet, even with His ability to move supernaturally, He does NOT necessarily always respond this way whenever a request comes His way. We can often find ourselves sitting, wondering, and waiting. But in that waiting, we need to consider something important that is frequently overlooked.

What am I doing with MY portion of this exchange as I wait on the Lord?

I can’t fully explain why, but we often remove ourselves from our interactions with the LORD. His heart’s desire is for us to be in constant relationship with Him (and those around us). Yet, we often go silent and become frozen in our places.

I want to share some suggestions that have helped me keep my side of things active and alive as I am pursuing Him:

• Seek time with a brother or sister in Christ, especially someone who might be more mature in their faith. Share your thoughts and observations on where you’ve just been and what you’ve seen. Their wisdom and experience can provide valuable insights and encouragement for further consideration.

• Spend quiet time examining those previously mentioned “thoughts and observations on where you’ve been.” Are there points that spark emotion or a desire to go deeper within you as you consider them?

• Recognize that these spark points can help you craft more specific and targeted prayers. Praying, “Is going back to school something that You would have me consider, LORD?” is a powerful and purposeful prayer, much more effective than simply praying, “What now?”

• Along the way, always look to turn down the STRESS. Take a breath (with God)! Go quiet at many points as you interact. Allow Him an opening to get a word/thought in edgewise.

• Allow time to discern—and then act (or not act yet) with your next move. Too often, I have been stuck in inactivity, awaiting God’s fully fleshed-out, no-risk instructions. However, God often only ‘speaks’ in small, obedient next steps that will be added to as you embrace them.

“Show me the right path, O LORD; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you.” – Psalms 25:4-5(NLT).

Never forget that our Father sees you as an invaluable part of every exchange you have with Him. God desires to hear from you in full disclosure and honest emotional connections. You have a part to play in this beautiful relationship.

Never forget to fully inhabit that position!