Attending the Kingdom Bound Christian festival was a special treat for my
boys and I. We sure love to worship the Lord through music and inspirational
sermons, and we were anticipating the many conferences and music festivals that
we would be attending.
However, God in His majestic ways, often has different plans for us. More than
anything, He desires for us to spend time alone with Him. Even when the
temperature is above 90 degrees Fahrenheit (Sorry no Celsius was available while
we were in the States!).
Around noon this particular day, our tent trailer was literally an oven. I
wasn't planning on staying in it. I was planning on attending a conference.
However I distinctively felt God's Spirit's urgings to remain in my
un-air-conditioned trailer. All pressure of life became
inconsequential. So now I was facing my laptop.
Oh, and I also had a tiny fan running, despite the
fact that what little breeze it blew could barely be felt!
All of a sudden I couldn't help myself from typing a message that my Father had
laid on my heart (See Next Door Please).
Everything around me faded from my consciousness, the heat, the tent, the tiny,
itty bitty fan. All I could feel was His presence and I found myself being loved
beyond imagination. I was in utter peace. I was thrilled to the core by being in
the presence of my Maker and Saviour.
My time with my Father was beyond expectation, far more delightful than any
conferences, music or rides (I don't like these anyway, as they tend to shake my
brain a bit too much to my liking). I enjoyed the messages that day from Reggie
Dabbs, as well as from Heart of the Saints, Downhere, Fireflight and Skillet
(They are, somehow, really named after a frying pan!), but my time with my
Father was the highlight of my day.
When I finished worshipping the One who makes a difference in my life, I found
myself soaked in sweat from the intense heat. Somehow though, it
hadn't affected me like
usual. I liked my experience so much that I couldn't wait to experience Him
again the next day (See The Weight of
Waiting)!
Interestingly enough, the church was born out of intense worship.
"When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a
sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole
house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that
separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the
Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them."
(Acts 2:1-4 NIV)
The great commission was also given while worship was the focus, even though
some doubted (Nothing has changed since then! We are no better!)
"Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told
them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus
came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to
me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name
of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey
everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very
end of the age." (Matt 28:16-20 NIV)
In fact, any worthwhile mission in the New Testament times was also birthed out
of passionate worship: "While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the
Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I
have called them." (Acts 13:2-3 NIV)
Is it possible that we, who are scared to death to testify about God's intense
love towards each of us, a love so immeasurable that He willingly died on a
cross so that we could spend eternity with Him, that we might be missing such
opportunities because we do not know how to truly worship the One who not only
made us, but also saved us? Do we even know the Lover of our soul personally? Do
we long to spend time with our Father?
Or do we have more pressing matters…?
Who needs air-conditioning when we have God at our side? (See Daniel 3: 19-30)
Rob Chaffart
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
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