Just recently I have been reminded on multiple occasions about the past and the many different times that God really spoke to me. As a Christian we always or at least I know I have and still do desire a “burning bush “moment. That moment where you know the voice you are hearing is God’s and what He is telling you is THE divine truth and for once have the clarity you have been searching for.
I remember one Sunday morning service in 1988 at the “Rock” in Minnesota, Bro Spencer Nordyke was in town and guest speaking to the youth group. He was talking about really hearing God’s voice and said if you really want to SEE Jesus just ask Him. He continued on to say.. “ just sit down on your bed and call out to God and ask him to show himself to you….” I can only imagine how many young people went home after that service and did just what I did. I went straight to my room, sat on my bed and cried out… “God, please show yourself to me!!!!” I waited and waited and waited until I figured God just wasn’t listening. Why wouldn’t He show up? Was I not worthy of His presence? Did I do it right? All of these questions were going through my head at the time and I wanted to figure out what I had to do to make it right so I could SEE God. I won’t sit here and tell you that I eventually saw God and we talked and all my questions were answered. But I can tell you that through the years God has Shown Himself to me in so many wonderful ways.
Have you ever heard the term “Camp Experience”? I attend Church kid’s and youth camps growing up. When you go to Church Camp you get away from your regular daily routines and for a week it’s just you, God and a 100 of your church friends. Typically there is a Guest Speaker and you are excited about what is going to happen that week. See, what happens is you go expecting to have an Experience with God and you don’t have the distractions of Home, TV, the internet or your non church friends. If any time was prime for God showing himself to us this definitely has to be it. I received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, received healing of my eyesight and had many upon many incredible experiences that I will never forget at camp. Those were critical building blocks in my life. Not only did we experience God in ways we never expected but we also developed relationships with people that have lasted a lifetime. There is a bond you develop when you are “in the trenches “with your friends during times of prayer or at the altar. You discover things about yourself and your peers that are eye opening. When it is all over and you say your good byes and you take that bus ride back home, you are still riding the High of the experience. Then you get home; see all the things you left behind for a week and you very quickly settle back into your regular way of doing things. It does not take very long for you to start feeling this sense of longing for your friends and the “Camp “experience. Now you are back home and bored and trying to adjust back to having all those things that you had avoided during that week of camp. You don’t have to go to Camp to have this type of Experience.
Find that quite place where you can shut out all those things that easily distract you. Give God that time and call out to Him. Luke 11:9 says, (Amplified Bible) So I say to you, Ask and keep on asking and it shall be given you; seek and keep on seeking and you shall find; knock and keep on knocking and the door shall be opened to you.
God desires to commune with you; to have your full attention. Find that quite place and seek Him. Psalm 40:1 says, “I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.” (stay tuned for part 2 )
Can I Get A Witness?
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