Sunday morning our little church usually has over 100 people in attendance. We have lots of fellowship meals throughout the month and those average 40-60. Our weekly bible studies average about 50-60. Last week we did a day-trip to an international grocery store two hours away and we had 20. Our prayer night. 1.
Yes, this week one person showed up for the evening of prayer and she was the one unlocking the building. Now, if you are from my church family, please don’t take this personally. Truly, I think our group is simply indicative of a greater problem in Westernized Christianity.
We like loud. We like entertaining. We like sermons that stimulate and music that stirs us. We like food. We like friendship. We like fun. We like our faith to be handed to us.
There’s nothing wrong with lively praise and spaghetti dinners, but I am learning there is more to deepening our connection to God than these collective activities. There are actually intimate ways to meet God. Sometimes I fear we settle for learning about him, when we could have an experience with him.
God has invited us, personally, to come into his presence, alone.
Let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. Heb. 4:16
Spiritual Retreat
One of the places God invites you to is just to come out and be with him.
“One day soon afterward Jesus went up on a mountain to pray, and he prayed to God all night.” Luke 6:12
A little over a year ago God placed an invitation on my heart. My oldest son was going to be traveling to D.C. I was looking for a place to stay and the message was placed in me, “Come. Alone.” I spent the week hidden in the hills of the Shenandoah mountains of Virginia, in a monastery, watching Trappist Monks gracefully execute a life of quiet solitude with their God. Even the guests of the house are discouraged from uttering a word. I spent a week in silence.
There were moments that the quiet was irritating. There were moments it was beautiful. That week gave me some of the loveliest moments of my life. And I was there. Alone and silent. Aware of God every moment.
Fasting
You want to start a riot in most fellowship meal friendly churches, tell them to quit eating.
“And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get. But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.” Mt. 6:16-18
It’s interesting to me that Jesus doesn’t say, “IF” you fast, or “it could be beneficial, but if you chose not to its OK.” No, Jesus operates under the assumption that you will fast and he directs the “how to.”
The early church did it. Their worship was coupled with their fasting and directly connected to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
“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.” Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.” Acts 13:2-3
The Holy Spirit spoke, directing their ministry, while they were worshiping and fasting. That’s pretty huge.
I wonder then, why we modern-day Christians try to explain away fasting or excuse it as something cultural for back then. The Creator offers his words and his direction through the humble sacrifice of giving up food.
“He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord.” Dt. 8:3
Prayer
So we probably do alright bowing our head during a service or at the dinner table. But how do we do devoting ourselves to lifestyle of specific times and specific places for prayer.
“They all met together and were constantly united in prayer, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, several other women, and the brothers of Jesus.” Acts 1:14
“On the Sabbath we went a little way outside the city to a riverbank, where we thought people would be meeting for prayer, and we sat down to speak with some women who had gathered there.” Acts 16:13
“One day as we were going down to the place of prayer…” Acts 16:16
Do you have special place where you gather with other believers to pray? Could someone find you by your place of prayer? Are you known as a faithful praying woman?
Here’s one of my self-checks ladies. When something happens in your life, good news, bad news, stress, whatever, who is your first call? I have had moments that I have to hang up the phone and resist calling my best friend and in her place call on Yahweh instead.
Meditation and Contemplation
Another thing the Monks introduced me to is contemplation. “Centering Prayer is a method of silent prayer that prepares us to receive the gift of contemplative prayer, prayer in which we experience God’s presence within us, closer than breathing, closer than thinking, closer than consciousness itself. This method of prayer is both a relationship with God and a discipline to foster that relationship.”
“As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.” 1 Chron. 28:9
“Your testimonies are my meditation.” Ps. 119:99
“Be still, and know that I am God.” Ps. 46:10
In the Western world our lives are so filled with noise. All sorts of noise clutters our minds. I rarely have a quiet moment to gather my thoughts let alone center myself for contemplation and intimacy with God. Kids are chatting. Music is playing. The TV is on. The husband is beckoning. Phones are ringing.
Sometimes I just need to shut it all down and go be. To go and be with God and centered on nothing but him.
So were does that leave me? Are these ideas just tips or helpful advise? No, I think they are much more. I believe they are survival tools in our spiritual armory. Remember that verse:
Let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. Heb. 4:16
“Help when we need it most.” I have had those moments when I needed help the most. In the moments of conflict, grief and struggle. In the times of doubt, fear, and restlessness. I needed him the most. In those moments knowing the right door to open to find him made the difference, not just in my spiritual well-being, but in my survival.
In the moments after Azaiah died I just wandered around our property at night, listening for the words of God to direct my steps. I needed words from heaven to just keep me breathing. In the season of a tumultuous marriage I poured my heart and spirit out, seeking God. Eventually he broke through the layers of stubbornness and humbled me. In the days that our church faced abhorrent sin within the body, I knew of no other way to beckon the Spirit other than collectively fasting as a church. And we did.
In each of these junctures of life, through unpopular forms worship, God showed up. He showed up to speak. He showed up to redeem. He showed up to show himself still the great and mighty “I AM.”
