When do you allow yourself to become so fully engaged with God and people and life that you completely forget about everything else? Instead of praying for it, wishing for it, worrying about it, taking pictures of it, talking about it, or writing about it…you live it. You’re all in, and you don’t even have time to reflect on what’s happening because every part of you is connected in the here-and-now.
After spending time with my family, watching one of my favorite people in all the world get married in Chicago, and being at Camp Bethany, I don’t even know how to put into words what I have been experiencing. But what I am not willing to do is base my life on experience.
God gave me the opportunity to connect with my family and friends. God empowered me to teach and to love the community at Camp Bethany. But it’s dangerous to worship people or experience because they don’t last forever. If all I’m talking about is people and what happened to me, I’m living a step or two away from what God is doing in the present.
I remember back in the 80’s when I based most of my counselling on my training. I remember in 90’s I over-relied on my experience. At the turn of the century I, I invested so much time and energy reading that I over-relied on the experience and learning of others. But the last ten years of my life my foundation and focus has been radically changing. Now I base my existence and ministry on the love of God and the Word of God.
As I’ve taken the plunge into the ocean of God’s endless love, I have found and experienced a security and satisfaction that meets my deepest longings. And as I allow God to shape me through His Word, by His Spirit, using people and places and experiences, I’m still searching for words to define God and this God-ordained life.
God is using my family experiences to teach me to let go and trust God. He used my friend’s wedding to teach me about His grace. The Holy Spirit worked so powerfully at Camp Bethany that kids experienced salvation and baptism, as we were surrounded by a community that loved God and people deeply from the heart. When God’s Spirit has full control, healing and miracles take place. Lies and darkness are transformed into truth and light. People love and serve and laugh and cry and sing and work and play in reckless abandon all for the glory of God.
But let’s be careful that we don’t worship or become fixated on what happened in my life or in your life. We get to tell stories, and how I thank God we can communicate. But the life-giving Author doesn’t want us to become experience-based people. He wants us to live by faith. The Holy Spirit wants to fill us with power and love and a freedom to give our lives away for the benefit of others. God desires to have His Word, His love, and His peace dwelling in us so richly that it’s changing the way we live and the lives of those around us.
We may sing songs like Christ Alone, but when we live for Christ Alone, nothing stays the same. Behold, He makes everything and everyone new!
What is your life based on?
What are you experiencing right now that you can no longer keep to yourself?