Spending time in quiet fellowship with God is the ultimate fulfillment of our existence. To trust him with all of our heart is the meaning and purpose of living and anything less than embracing these visions of the divine leaves us spiritually unfulfilled.
I know that Christians are supposed to be a constant demonstration of happiness and excitement, but we humans are emotional, and sometimes we cannot hide our burdens and melancholy moods. I'm always writing about finding God's peace and how faith and fear are choices - which is true - but I'm also not a stranger to the occasional feelings of loneliness and disappointment. Just because we follow Jesus does not mean we do not struggle. There is a lot going on in the world and it's normal to feel overwhelmed and discouraged.
Whatever frame of mind you are in today, if you are feeling alone and down, God wants you to know that he loves you very much. He knows your thoughts and what you are going through, and he understands everything. Take some time and get alone with him and just talk to him. On my website is a song I wrote called "Get Alone With Me." It's free, and I believe it will bring encouragement to you.
Just like the body needs fresh water every day, if we are a child of God, our spirit also needs to be refreshed with prayer and meditating on God's promises. We hear a lot about our "new normal," but isn't it time we made a new commitment to God and invite him to rearrange our life for his purposes?
Yes, it's very difficult to surrender our will and allow Christ to renew and transform the way we think, but if we are ever going to get serious about our relationship with Jesus, now is the time to begin. Remember, no matter what may come, there is no need to fear for Jesus will always be with you. Deuteronomy 31:6 declares, "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."
God is the giver of hope and peace, and if you will become determined to find a place where you can share your heart and tell him honestly how you feel, the Bible promises that he will surround you with comfort and security. One of my favorite chapters is Psalm 91, and here are the first two verses. "He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, he is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in him will I trust."
Our heavenly Father has given us the opportunity to walk with him. In turn, our responsibility is to obey his voice as it's a privilege and honor to love, worship and serve him with all of our heart. Romans 12:1 says, "Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service."
The question remains: Who will take up their cross and dedicate their journey to living in the secret place of his presence? There are prophetic signs all around us, and God's word is being fulfilled every day. This should bring clarity to God's people and confirm that Christ is coming soon. I would love to only write about the future being filled with endless happiness and world peace, but my conscience will not allow me to smear icing on a pan of mud and call it a chocolate cake.
However, all is not lost! Just because the world rejects Jesus and those who represent him does not mean that we cannot be filled with faith or experience victory. We recall the three Hebrew children who were in the fiery furnace, but Jesus was with them and they were saved!
Today, you can also stand boldly on his truth and have confidence that no matter how big the mountains or the giants, you and God are a majority! "He shall cover you with his feathers, and under his wings shall you trust: His truth shall be your shield and buckler" (Psalm 91:4).
As my song says: "Quiet time with you Lord is the most joyful. I wait in reverence as I listen for your voice. I want to know you more than anything. As I draw near, I am humbled and in awe of your love."
Read more at billyhollandministries.com.
Billy Holland