Slow down….you are probably going to FAST!
So often we run around with jam packed schedules and if it wasn’t for your smartphone for telling you what’s next then you probably wouldn’t show up. Or we pace back in forth in front of the microwave because waiting 30 seconds for a “fresh” previously cooked meal isn’t fast enough. We just run around trying to fill every gap of time because if we are not “maximizing” every moment then we are “wasting” our life away.
I choose the pronoun WE because that lifestyle definitely included me before the World Race and shows side effects on the race. I know the feeling because the American culture has deep roots inside of me. Slowly but surely those roots are being pulled out and evaluated; then taking root in fresh soil.
Because this fast past American lifestyle affects everything …. including worship!
I am not knocking American church worship by any means. I am a huge fan and strongly feel like the songs they prepare for each Sunday do an overall excellent job in preparing the audience’s heart, mind, and soul for the upcoming sermon.
Overall if we are only getting feed spiritually on Sunday morning then we are literally starving ourselves of the full potential we have in Jesus do to not spending time in the Word daily. Like wise if we reduce worship to 3 to 4 songs on Sunday morning then we are missing out on greater blessings too.
Saturday night a group of us decided to do an all night prayer on Liepaja beach overlooking the Baltic Sea. We went out prepared with Ipod, speakers, journal, Bible, blanket, snacks, and excited about what God has instore for each of us. Once shop was set up on the beach we immediately opened in prayer to prepare our hearts as we embraced sacrificing our sleep to embrace more of Him. Music started playing and people quickly started to actively worship.
For me in general this is how I start praying during these times: open with the Lord’s prayer, thank God for who He is, confess any sins/struggles/areas of forgiveness, then wait to hear from God…Fully knowing that I am going to be out on this beach for 7 hours, I wrapped up this prayer in less than 3 songs. Then I sat, sung and waited patiently. After awhile I got up, moved around, and kept singing. Silence remained. Tried another short prayer here and there. Silence continued. Then I tried this question, “God, why can’t I hear you?”
God rocked my world with “Eric, you need to slow down and truly reflect, think, and ponder on me.”
Ouch! That comment definitely hit me in a tender place. For the past month I had been reading books by A.W. Tozer and Indescribable by Matt Redman and Louie Giglio…I thought I was reflecting on God leading up until now. Then it dawned on me to sit down and to look up. Up until now I was just gazing over the sea on this cloudy night with a hat on. Once I took the time to look up past my normal stare I begun to notice stars were actually out. All the things I have reading about were just a look away.
I spent the remainder of the night just reflecting on God’s creation. How He placed each stars in the sky and knows them by name? How He out did himself in creating space so large you can’t even begin to fathom! And yet He still pursues each and everyone of us!
Slow down! Ponder how great and magnificent the greater of the universe truly is. So often we run to the cross, lay our burdens down, then expect God to reveal the next blessing. Yes, take it to the cross because the battle is WON, Jesus is RISEN, and there is VICTORY in Jesus! But while you are there truly take the time to embrace all that He is!
Be Bold in pursuing God with everything.
Be Intentional to slow down, and hear from God.
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