Inspiration

Post for November 13, 2012:  Inspiration
This year, our Men’s group is going through the third series of lessons in The Men’s Fraternity, titled “The Great Adventure”.  At the end of the fifth lesson, one of the discussion questions asked us to share a dream or two with the others.  I shared my dream of being an inspirational writer who would help draw others closer to God.  They asked me how that was going and I told them I had started a blog, but had been challenged lately seeking material to write about.  Our group leader asked me to write something and bring it to our next class.  After a fair amount of ribbing regarding how inspiring my effort would be, someone else suggested I ask what God would have to say to inspire the group.  Class ended and I had my assignment.

I woke up in the middle of the night and thought to ask God what He had to say.  It may sound odd, but I often find that the middle of the night is one of the best times for me to talk to God.  I think for me, it’s because the busyness of the day isn’t running around in my head and I can hear from Him better.  It’s also easier to have an informal conversation.  So I said, “Lord, what do I write about to help the class draw closer to you?”  Jesus said this, “I love you”, and “I have a place for you.”  When He said those words, I felt such a sense of completeness come over me.  I felt solid and anchored and strangely satisfied in my soul.  The closest analogy I can think of is the way you feel after you’ve eaten a substantial meal.  Not stuffing yourself to the point of discomfort, but that point where you can feel the weight of the meal inside you and a sense of fullness spreads through your body.  You have satisfied your need for food and you are content.  That’s how my soul felt.

With those words, Jesus addressed two of our most basic needs:  the need to be loved and the need to belong.  We find it first in our families as we grow up, but as we mature, the desire to be loved takes on a different meaning and our development as an individual causes us to seek an identity outside of the family.  So we look for love in others and we try to fit in with those around us.  But all too often, we go through life feeling unloved and alone because we haven’t sought the love of our Creator, nor felt the sense of belonging that comes from a relationship with Him.  In Genesis, we learn that God created man for fellowship with Him.  Even though man betrayed that trust, it didn’t remove the desire within us, and it certainly didn’t change God’s desire for relationship.  Quite the opposite happened.  God so loved us that He sent Jesus to die in our place, to pay the price for our reconciliation with God.

If you’re feeling alone and out of place, call out to Jesus now.  You will know you belong to Him, He will fill the void in your soul and He will bring you Peace.

P.S.:  I don’t usually add post scripts to these writings, but there were a couple of other things that happened while writing this that need to be included.  First, when I was receiving instruction from God, I could sense anticipation on His part.  Then He said, “I’ve got great things for you to do!”  At first I took it personally, but after reflection, I believe it’s what God has for every one of us.  He is not a God who thinks small and none of us are disqualified from mighty deeds in His eyes!

P.P.S.:  Just one more thing and then I’m done.  It was two nights later, and I again woke up in the middle of the night.  I said, “Hi Lord,” and He responded with “Hi Chris!” with such excitement in His voice that I had to ask why.  He said, “I know our future and it is glorious!”  My human side took over and I started to mention the uncertainty everyone was feeling.  I was quickly corrected when He said, “There’s no uncertainty in Me!”  It made me think of how we miss out on so much because we fail to trust in the God who exists outside of time and who knows the end of all things.  I look at this as a call to all of us to take our eyes off the world and put them back on God!  It’s time to live the adventure God has prepared for us!  Remember what it says in Philippians 4:13: “I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me!  Now, get out there, be amazing and live the adventure God has for YOU!