Is God far away – like wandering in the desert?
…or are you the one who is far from God?
I got to thinking a lot about how much a great many Christians want to feel God more, and how many often feel that they are wandering in the desert – and that God is far away…. And it gave me a bunch of “questions” to ponder.
You want so much for God to reveal Himself to you…
– but you can’t be bothered to prioritize spending time with God (for more than 2 minutes at a time).
You want so much to experience feeling safe with God…
– but you fill your mind with scary movies, movies with occult witchcraft (e.g. Sabrina, Harry Potter, etc.) and other junk.
You want so much to experience being loved by God…
– but you don’t hesitate to backstab others, push them away, or have negative self-talk.
You are just so tired of God allowing war in this world…
– but you still play shooting games, watch war movies, or nurse your envy.
You want so much to experience God’s love…
– but you fill your mind with music about break-ups and lust.
You want so much for God – and others to see YOU and YOUR needs…
– but you yourself forget to reach out and give to others.
You want so much to trust in God and experience trust from others…
– but you yourself often use “that white lie”, which is black as tar in God’s eyes. Lies sow mistrust.
You want so much to experience God’s peace…
– but you fill your mind with occult chains like clairvoyance or yoga.
You want so much to have calm in your life…
– but you choose to fill yourself with worry – instead of giving them to Jesus.
You want so much to just experience more of God…
– but you choose to live in a gray area, where everything (or most things) are permissible, as long as you do them in love. But that is not the way God’s heart works!!! God wants you to reject the things that are wrong and choose Him 100% in ALL THINGS.
…and you know what…?
God wants so much to reveal Himself to you…
– He is just waiting for YOU to come to Him – He is ready…!
God wants so much to make you safe…
– He is just waiting for you to lay down all the things that are actively filling you with anxiety.
God wants so much to give you a feeling of being loved by Him…
– but He is just waiting for you to allow Him to love you and for you to love others.
God wants so much for there to be no war and evil…
– He is just waiting for us to allow love and peace to win and turn our back on war (both in tv, games, and in reality)
etc. etc. etc.…
Remember the old word: “You are what you eat”. That’s not just about physical food, but also spiritual food… What we open ourselves up to on earth, we open ourselves up to in the spiritual world – and what we close off on earth, we close off in the spiritual world! It isn’t up to God to find us our way, but rather it is up to us to find God His way.
James 4:7-10
Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.
Colossians 3:14-17
But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Philippians 4:5-8
Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
Andreas Slot-Henriksen
September 2018
