40 Days in the Desert – Day 1
The story of Jesus in the desert can’t be matched, at least not by human standards. I mean there is no way anything I face can compare to having the prince of darkness offer me everything, power, wealth, you name it, in a circumstance like Jesus faced. I say this because the title of this blog, and the next 39 blogs that follow, are not meant to insinuate that I am going through what Jesus did. On the other hand, the number 40 is used in many stories in the Bible that had to do with waiting. Jesus began his ministry after the 40 days, the children of Israel entered their promise land after 40 years. It seems like a pretty important number.
So I will spend the next 40 days blogging about my wait. While the circumstances that brought on this waiting were troubling and unexpected, I believe that when God says “I work all things together for good for those who believe” that He means it. And the fact is, I could easily miss it. I don’t want to miss it. In fact to miss it may mean missing the very thing that brings about the next season in my life. Wouldn’t it be a shame to get to the end of 40 days, see a door open and realize that I remember nothing of the last 40 days, the days that were meant to be a revelation.
I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I am called to pastor people, helping them discover and grow in a real, authentic, intimate relationship with a real God, a Father who loves us beyond our wildest thoughts, that calling is also centered on worship because to open yourself up to worship means to be in a posture that allows you to see the fullness of His love. In fact, if you are holding back in worship, don’t be surprised that you don’t see His love for you.
With that call firmly in place, the time right now is for me to simply know Him, talk with Him and most importantly, listen to Him. Church ministry has a way of taking us away from that.
So I hope you will join me on this 40 day journey.
The deserts that we sometimes find ourselves in are meant to have purpose, so . . . let’s go build some sandlecastles.
James
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