Tonight, I re-read all of my prior posts. Tears of worship flowed as I lost myself again in the treasure of recounting His Faithfulness to me. This path of perseverance has forever changed me. In some ways, it has utterly ruined me. For one thing, I can hardly spend a few minutes in fellowship with Him before the waterworks begin. Jesus has drawn too close, said so much and filled more valleys than I even imagined existed. Truly, He is indescribably wonderful!
In this post, I want to re-visit the tools for my journey of perseverance and share the revelation that hindsight has afforded me with respect to those basic practices of the Christian faith.
During long, isolated days I fought for my faith and pressed in for answers from heaven, armed with the familiar tools from my many years raised in Christ. Like a carefully crafted recipe for miracles, I filled my days with times of worship, reading my Bible, soul-bearing prayer and quiet meditation. I translated my thoughts and emotions into pages upon pages of journals. I read books on healing and prayer. (This excerpt is from my previous post: "The Journey of Perseverance.")
Worship, The Word, Prayer, Journaling, Music, Quiet...Once served as life preservers for my daily battle. Through these disciplines turned into desperate grasps for hope, my God met with me and filled me with what I needed from Him. I tasted and saw that the Lord is good. (Psalm 34:8) As I struggled daily to reach out for more of what Jesus had for me, He began to answer.
The revelations grew.
Jesus met me at my need. He proved Himself Faithful, Loving and Strong. I learned the most life-changing truth that has challenged every fear or doubt that has ever since tried to usurp His work in my life. Here it is...I hope you catch it to your very core.
He always answers with more than we ever imagine to ask for. God does not look over our checklist of urgency and cross each item off as a balanced system of asked and received. NO! He answers with Himself! His presence! He alone is the Healer, Deliverer, Savior, Restorer, Liberator...insert whatever you need here! When we bring our needs to Him, He brings every part of Himself to our situation...not just a fragment of Himself that answers our request.
Oh, I how can I adequately describe this revelation!?
Do you need Breakthrough? Seek Him! Invite Him to show up. Whatever your circumstance, God desires to fill your life to overflowing 'rivers of living water.' (John 4:10) He will not fixate on your one area of urgency. No...He will fill every part of you to overflowing, so much that your need will ultimately transform. You will simply need Him. All else will become grossly insufficient. Even if your trial remains, your soul will soar on wings like eagles. (Isaiah 40:31)
Worship, The Word, Prayer, Journaling, Music, Quiet...and now, in more recent years, Fasting. Tools for my seeking journey of perseverance. Now, they have become keys to unlocking the mysteries of who He is. Meeting Places...These disciplines have graduated for me, from steps or rituals to altars...gateways to His heart...to His voice...to His presence.My purpose has shifted from self-preservation to "laying hold of that for which Christ Jesus laid hold of me!" (Philippians 3:12)
Same tools for the Journey - Brand new perspective! Once dry and sometimes painful (sacrifice) ...now deep, mysterious and transformative. He is the goal! The Prize! The Reward!
If you need any encouragement as you read this post, please allow me to offer my most enthusiastic and sincere plea for you to forge ahead through whatever cost required of you to see Him. In my wild flare for the dramatic, I imagine myself returning from the adventure of a life-time, only to stand at the ticket counter wide eyed and a bit obnoxious, beckoning others to dare to take the trip. "You have to go! You don't know what you are missing! It's worth everything you have! You will never be the same!...
He guarantees.
