That's been my focus for the last few months. As a Christian and as a pastor of the gospel of Jesus Christ, I am so hungry for another mighty move of God... not just in my life, not just in my family or my church family, but however big God wants to make it. And not for my glory or our church's glory... but all for God's glory. I really feel a strong passion to focus on two things: God's Word and prayer. That may sound very elementary to you or too obvious but think about it for a moment. Are we really hungry for God? Is our hunger for God being shown in our Bible study and in our prayer lives?
I used to play the keyboard for a quartet called Greater Desire and tonight, I am reminded of a phrase that Kendall Bush, our tenor singer, used to say quite often. The phrase was "living beneath your privileges". If I remember the context of that saying, Kendall was referring to those who didn't know Jesus and was explaining that they are missing out on so much that God has to offer because they have not committed their lives to Christ yet. Tonight, I am thinking about the phrase in the next context which is focusing on those of who are Christians but are satisfied where we are spiritually instead of hungering for more of Him. When we pray, are we really praying to God or just mumbling some memorable phrases that we have rehearsed? When we read God's Word, do we really meditate on it or do we just rush through it so that we can get on with our busy schedules?
So what about the "That's it! I am done. I quit. I am tired of business as usual and just going through the motions. I want more. I need more. God wants to me have more."? Instead of flying on auto-pilot, I want to stop and focus more on connecting with God through reading His Word and through praying to Him. Acts 6:4 (ESV) — 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” Instead of thinking "I have to read this much today", I want to focus on "What am I doing with what I read today? Have I applied His Word to my life? Have I meditated on His Word and have I prayed His Word instead of just praying the same things that I usually prayed for?" I want to experience more of God's presence in my life so that those around me will know God. What did Jesus say in Matthew 5:16 (ESV) — 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Do you see it? By letting our light shine before others (living the life that God wants us to live), they will see our good works and give all of the glory to God. Don't you want that to happen in your life too?
Will you join me in seeking for more of God's presence in our lives, in our families and in our churches? Think about the impact that our lives could have if we lived every day for His glory and asked God to make us more faithful and more fruitful. Before I close this post, I want to share with you the passage that we read tonight in our Bible study and I would encourage you to read through it slowly and pray these words for yourself and also for whoever God puts on your heart...
Colossians 1:3–14 (ESV) — 3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, 5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, 6 which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, 7 just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf 8 and has made known to us your love in the Spirit. 9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. 11 May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
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