Long Journey Home

NOTE: This post will make more sense by first reading the preceding posts: "Park Your Heart..." and "Blog Vacation."

The further we go from "HOME" the longer it takes to get back! For the purposes of this Blog post, "HOME" represents my Spiritual Position. AS I shared earlier, while continuing to pray, read the Bible, study, prepare sermons, etc. I drifted away from the heart of God! It's kind of like swimming in the ocean when there is a strong 'under-tow.' You are just swimming and playing with friends/family and then you look up and think, "Who moved our stuff?" Without an intentional, disciplined TIME to do nothing but BE ALONE WITH GOD, we will drift away from HIM.

Another illustration that helps me grasp this truth is like the couple who has been married for a long time. One day while riding together in the car the wife asks her husband if he remembers their "dating" days when she was always sitting right under his arm every time they were together in the car. After sharing other sentimental memories the wife simply asks: "What happened to us?" The man who has been listening quietly simply says, "I didn't move."

Though this is a silly story it does illustrate what happens to our personal journey with God (and I am speaking to those who have chosen to become Christ-Followers). Without intending to or even realizing it, I moved far away from the heart of God. He was still where He has always been. It was I who moved away from Him. There is a Scripture in James 4:8 that gives insight into this principle: "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you." This tells me that, as long as I am seeking the Lord with all my heart, I can expect Him to come to me. His moving towards me is contingent on my desire, activity, and intentionality of moving closer to HIM!

The dangerous thing about moving away from God is the EFFORT that is required to merely "GET BACK" to where we once were. This is not an easy process! There are no shortcuts because, if there were, we would be more careless about moving away again. So, How do we start this "Long Journey Back Home?" IN my life, the times when I have been the closest to the Lord are when I intentionally woke up early to spend time praying, reading, and meditating on God's Word. For me it must be early enough to where my daily schedule does not cause me to have a hurried spirit.

I made a commitment to the Lord back on January 25, 2010 to rise early in the morning, before sunrise, to spend these first moments of my day with the Lord. Then, God led me to this verse: "Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there he prayed." (Mark 1:35 - speaking about Jesus) If Jesus, being God in the flesh, needed to go and spend quiet time in prayer, how much more do I need this time? After making this commitment, God led a Pastor friend whom I had not seen in years to request that we keep each other accountable for spending this time every day with the Lord! Not studying for sermons, Bible lessons to teach, etc. but just for our personal walk with the Lord.

In summary, here are some things you need to get back or to stay fervent in your personal relationship with Christ:
*Desire to Grow closer to Christ Jesus
*Disciplined Time when it is just you and God
*An accountability partner (everyone needs accountability)
Set your time, find your place, get a pen, journal book and the Word of God (because God will often speak through His Word be ready to look up Scriptures and write down what HE shows you). If you have time, let me know how your personal times with the Lord are going. Maybe we can help keep each other accountable through this electronic medium. I am praying for your journey because I know that this is the key to seeing our world transformed by God.