Scripture tells us that our God is a "consuming fire". If that is true (and it is) are we consumed by Him? I preached on this very subject this past Sunday but feel the need to revisit it today.
When was the last time you said, "I'm so consumed by God?" I'm sure that each of us have had moments or seasons in our walk with the Lord where we were fully aware of His presence, His direction, and His voice. Unfortunately, we don't stay there very long. It is way too easy for us to become consumed with the things of this life. Don't get me wrong...I don't think we were created to stay on the mountain top, but regardless of where we are (mountain top or valley), we can still be consumed by God.
Tommy Tenney wrote in "God's Favorite House": "To be honest, I hope you live with so much holy frustration that you can't sleep tonight. I pray that a gnawing hunger for the presence of God rises up in your heart with devastating results. I want you to be 'ruined' for everything except His purposes." Let me say that only in a life that is consumed by God can be ruined for everything except His purposes. Do you want to be ruined?
Last night we had a special service for our youth. Well...it wasn't just for the youth, we allowed the adults from our prayer meeting group to sit it (some of us "older" folks). The reason for the service was simple: Ernie (youth pastor) and myself had become acquainted with a young lady in our community. Courtney (14) had just returned from a youth camp where God had challenged her to reach out to her generation. After sharing her heart with Ernie, he agreed to let her share this burning passion. It turned out to be an incredible night of worship, prophetic insight, and challenging testimony. All of this from a young lady of 14 years of age. It was nothing less than a "Wake-Up Call" for her generation to say they didn't have to become statistics, they could change their culture, and they can make an impact on their generation. Personally, I was blown away by her maturity and sensitivity to the Spirit of God.
As I dwelt upon the events of the evening, I thought to myself how very few people in the church experience what we experienced. There are way too many "believers" who have never experienced what she experienced - and she is only 14. Why is that? Is she simply that special? Is there something different about her? To answer those questions I would say "Yes". She is special and she is different but only because she has allowed herself to be consumed by an All-Consuming God!
How about you? Are you ready to be totally consumed - totally ruined - by God? Aren't you tired of going through religious ritual? Can you say that you are ready for God to bust out of the box that you have used to contain Him? Jesus says, "Come unto Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matt. 11:28) Find some time to get into the presence of God today. Do whatever it takes! If you need to run to the mountain top, get out by the river, or close the door to your closet; find some time with the Lord and give Him everything. Turn on some worship music and soak in the praise. Or you can find a quiet place and "be still" before Him. You need this today. Go ahead. He's ready to ruin you for everything else but Him!
1 comment:
Thank you so much for writing this I just want to be consumed by God nothing else really matters …. how I long to run to heaven throw myself into His arms look into His eyes, tell Hm thank you - I love you and then just disappear into Him.
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