I have gotten some pretty awesome opportunities lately to lead worship for different events, or retreats, or gatherings. Some have been at large churches, some in living rooms, and some added events at my own church. When it comes to services or events outside of the normal weekend church services, it always takes extra work, extra planning, extra thought, extra time...etc. And at the end of all of them, I've felt pretty tired, but extraordinarily filled up.
So I've been thinking about this for a while now and the Lord continues to show me that if we are willing to move, to make effort, to draw near to Him, He will always make our efforts worthwhile.
What I mean is, I think about these extra events or extra services; the people that come to them are coming on their own voluntary decision. Most people, at least that come to church, have Sunday mornings worked into their regular schedules. But how many plan to drop everything to attend a prayer meeting, or a conference, or bible study, etc...For sure the number will always be fewer in regards to a Sunday morning service. But in the midst of the "fewer," who take the time to go and meet with the Lord, God always shows up; to fill hearts, to bear burdens, to provide supernatural rest, to convict, to change, to shape, to energize.
In the several different settings that I've been apart of lately, I have not once left feeling like I hadn't met with the Lord.
I'm reminded of the truths in God's word. Jesus says on several accounts:
- John 15:4 "Abide in me and I in you."
- Mark 1:17 "Follow me and I will make you fishers of men."
- Matthew 11:28 he says to them, "come to me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest."
- John 7:37 and he cried out, "if anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink."
- Mark 6:31 "come away by yourself and rest a while."
On all accounts, there is a constant and a challenge. The constant is, Jesus has all that we need, and is always ready to meet with us, do something in us, and even use us. The challenge is for us to move. For us to "Come to Him." And I keep seeing it happen, when people sacrifice time to go and be with God, He always shows up and fills up!
James 4:8 says, "draw near to God and he will draw near to you."
For sure this all can happen on a personal level. For sure we can draw near to the Lord on our own and should. My conviction is simply, why don't I more? Because sacrifice is hard. The extra effort is hard. The rearranging of my schedule is hard.
In the moments of my extra effort, or my sacrifice, the Lord has been continually teaching me that there is no place I'd rather be than in His presence, and convicting me of the times I haven't taken the initiative to go to Him.
Can you relate to what I'm saying? How has the Lord shown himself to you, when you've taken the initiative to draw near to him?