A Lifetime Pursuit

If you have been following this Blog for any length of time you have noticed that I am not like most Bloggers. You won't see a daily or even weekly post, especially those done mostly to boost readership. I am not interested in numbers for the sake of numbers. Nor is it my intention to try and convince those who are satisfied with their relationship with Jesus that they need to spend time in private worship. I am more interested in providing the hungry with a road map for entering into a long term pursuit of worshipping The Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. So, if you are hungry for God's manifested presence and refuse to stop until you see it then you're the person I am writing for.

It has been a little over a year since beginning my pursuit of His presence in private worship. At first, I think I had the idea that one day I would be in worship and God would suddenly show up and totally engulf me with Himself resulting in a life altering change. Don't get me wrong, I would still love for that to happen, but after a year of pursuing His presence I am coming to the realization that a one time encounter with God is not what this is about. He is more interested in a lifetime pursuit of Him rather than a one time spectacular encounter.

So, if this is not about a one time event in which God touches your lips with a coal from His altar, what can you expect?

Consider this, instead of looking for God to swoop in one day and sweep you off your feet, what if each moment you spend investing in the development of a love relationship with God the dividend is that a small fraction of His presence becomes a little more real to you? In other words, rather than God suddenly flooding you with Himself in a one time experience, His presence in you gradually becomes more apparent as His nature in you flourishes. That's right God's nature; His character, who He is, will begin to manifest more in you and through you each hour you spend in worship.

Here is an example of what I am referring to. Just this week I was having dinner with some fellow ministers in whom I have a great deal of respect. One of them made a comment that they could see a noticeable change in me and the peace that I am now walking in. When he said it, I noticed it for myself, and yes I am walking in much more peace than I have ever had before. I attribute this peace to the time I have spent in private worship and how this has allowed more of God's nature to manifest in and through me. You have to understand, to step into full time ministry as I and my wife have with no direct support from anyone but God, can be a little unsettling. But, instead of biting my nails and wondering where the money would come from, I have regularly spent time in private worship getting to know Jesus like never before. Consequently He has slowly been able to manifest Himself in me and His character is showing up to the point that others are able to see the change in me.

Another recent development is worth mentioning. The other day, following some time spent in private worship, the realization came to me that I was beginning to sense His presence a little more than before. I am not talking about in some dramatic way, but rather in a subtle way. Then, this example came to mind. Before I share it with you understand this is just an analogy to help get the idea across to you. I know that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all, as well as, God is omnipresent so there is no place that God is not. With that being said here is the analogy. Have you ever walked into a room that was dark and you have had a knowing that there was someone else in that room with you. It was not like you could see the person, but you could feel that someone was there and the closer you got to them the stronger that feeling became. That is what I was sensing. A year ago I knew by faith that God would never leave me nor forsake me. Now, there seems to be a knowing in me that, although I can not see Him, I recognize His person much more now. With this knowing has come great peace and assurance like I have never had before.

I have had the opportunity to discuss this with Pastor Dave Roberson and he confirmed this to be true with him as well. He said that it is this presence that I have begun to experience that will continue to grow and develop until it will actually move to the atmosphere that surrounds me. When that happens, others will be able to experience His presence as they did when Peter's shadow fell on those who were instantly healed.

I can tell you now by experience that private worship has certainly changed me. Maybe not in the way that I had expected, but in a way that is none the less dramatic. To walk in this level of peace while faced with the challenges of life and ministry is priceless.

I want to encourage you to continue in the lifelong pursuit of His presence in private worship and allow Him to forever change you.

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Perfect Peace

Does the thought of spending any amount of time quietly sitting still and telling God how much you love and worship Him and Jesus sound impossible to you? So many of us have such busy lives that we wonder where we will find time to spend in worship. Well, consider this, something so simple as you telling God how much you love and adore Him brings Him immeasurable pleasure. However, it requires something that has become a rare commodity, your undivided attention.

If you were to ask most Christians what they think they will be doing for much of eternity, I believe a very high percentage would acknowledge that they would have an intimate, loving relationship with Jesus and the Father. Most would say they expect to enjoy times in His presence basking in His glory and free of all care. But, if asked, chances are those same people would have no clue that they can enjoy that same presence right now while still on this earth.

One thing I have discovered as I have endeavored to cultivate His presence in worship is that this is not a race to a finish line it is a journey. Some days the journey is rich with His presence full of joy and excitement knowing that you have the attention of the creator of the universe. Other days are a struggle trying to keep every thought focused on Him. Whether it is financial worries, family problems or just random thoughts, it is a challenge to keep your thoughts focused on Him.

Isaiah 26:3 says, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee."

If you were to add all the hours I have spent in private worship and then subtracted the hours spent struggling, fighting with everything in me to keep my thoughts focused exclusively on Him, I am sad to say that I think the hours free of struggle would be very few.

Here's why; my soul thinks it is still in charge and fights endlessly to maintain control. For example, just today, I was sitting in my chair worshipping the Lord with all my attention focused on Him when all of a sudden off go my thoughts on a totally unrelated subject. Today, it wasn't necessarily worried thoughts, I think I was thinking about giving my dog a bath. But, nevertheless, my soul was in control for those few seconds. So, I regained control once again and with everything in me I focused on Jesus. I worshipped Him. I told Him how much I love Him. Next thing I know, my mind wants to think about food. If I let my mind, it will run all over the place thinking about one thing and then another. "What am I going to do today?" "Has anyone sent me an email?" "What is the weather forecast?" "I need to wash my truck?" The list goes on and on because the soul demands to be in control. The act of worshipping the Lord is birthed out of your reborn human spirit consequently your soul is gaining nothing from it, in fact it is losing its seat of dominance and it hates it. Your spirit soars with joy every second you give yourself over to worshipping God, while your soul pines away, sulking because it isn't in control.

Just consider your soul like a spoiled little brat always wanting his way and never growing up. Be stern and don't let it get by with anything. Maybe you don't even realize your thoughts have drifted until about 10 minutes later. Don't get upset. Crack the whip and demand your soul to shut up then put your attention back on the Lord.

Look back at that scripture once again. Look at those words, "perfect peace". Can you imagine perfect peace? Most people, Christians and non-Christians alike have no idea that "perfect peace" is even possible in this life, especially now with the financial downturn. To think that anything even remotely close to "perfect peace" is possible in this life is like a fairy tale to most.

Let me assure you that "perfect peace" is not a pipe dream. It flows like a river out of your new nature and can be accessed through private worship. His peace will role over you like waves across the water as you focus all your attention on His greatness and His all consuming love for you. He loves you. God, who set the sun and the moon in their orbit and spoke this world into existence loves you, that's right you, with a never ending love.

Crawl into His lap and put all your attention on Him as you worship Him and allow His "perfect peace" to engulf your entire being. That is what He wants for you.

~Blessings Mark

Peace in the Turmoil

I believe it is impossible to live in this world with all its daily challenges, especially with all that is happening around the world, and not deal with emotional turmoil.  Just trying to survive from day to day is becoming more difficult.  Rising prices threaten our ability to maintain the standard of living that we have come to expect.  Besides the economic uncertainty, many face disease and illness that not only threatens their economic future, but also their very life.  With all these things continuing to mount up against us is it any wonder that our emotions are in such a mess?  Just look at the increase in the number of people taking their own life in suicide.  They have simply come to the place that emotionally they can no longer deal with the reality that surrounds them.  God knew these days were coming and has already made available to His children a source of relief from all the madness.

I want to share with you what I believe to be one of, if not the best, benefits of entering into Private Worship and it is available to anyone.  God has provided every believer with the ability to disconnect from what seems to be overpowering emotions and enter into a place of peace and stillness simply by entering into Private Worship.

What I have discovered in my own times of Private Worship is that there are, for lack of a better term, layers that you reach as you continue in your times of Private Worship.  Remember, you are probably not going to feel much change as you enter into the beginning stages of Private Worship.  It is generally that lack of visible change that stops people from continuing.  Be encouraged, if you will press through those dry times when nothing seems to be happening and your words seem to fall to the ground, you will eventually enter into a place of peace which you will find to be overwhelming.

This place of peace is not going to be found in two or three sessions of Private Worship.  It is going to take some time and dedication on your part.  It is going to require some endurance.  You have to be willing to suffer through the emotionless times when it feels like no one, not even God, hears what you are saying.  Rest assured, God hears every word and the joy He feels because of your worship is immeasurable.

So, the question is pretty obvious, exactly how long is it going to take before I enter into this place of peace?  There is no set answer to this question.  It really depends on each person.  Each one of us are at different places in our spiritual development.  Maybe you are someone who has not been saved very long and have just begun to grow spiritually.  It may take you some time, but because of your enthusiasm you may be willing to endure.  You may be someone who has been saved for a long time and yet your growth and development spiritually has been minimal.  You too may have to press through quite of bit of dry time before you enter this place of peace.  It is possible that there are some who have already traveled down this road of Private Worship a good distance and still have not entered this place of peace.  Be encouraged, you will enter in just don't stop.

Once you reach this place, it is the most amazing thing that you can be under attack and your emotions in turmoil until finally you can get alone with God and begin to worship Him. Then it is like you are disconnected from the weight that has been bearing down on you and you are free.  Does that sound like a place you would like to go?

"What about my problems?" They are not just going to disappear.  But, when you have spent a couple hours focusing your attention on the answer to your problems instead of the problems themselves it gives you a whole new confidence that your Father has already provided the answer to your prayers.  All that worry and torment is not doing you or your situation any good.  It is only undermining your confidence in your Father and His ability to take care of you.

So, instead of all that worry.  Instead of dulling your emotions with 14 hours of watching television.  Instead of masking the pain with drugs or alcohol, yes unfortunately some believers resort to chemical sedatives.  Instead of doing all these things which will not take you one step closer to solving your dilemma, why not spend time with Jesus.  
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