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| Experience The Desert |
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The relationship with the Holy Spirit is one that takes time and practice. The goal of the person trying to follow the Holy Spirits' leading must ultimately become one of TRUSTING IN HIM AND THEN RELYING UPON HIM.
Because of the amazing difference between the wisdom and insight the Holy Spirit has over the one trying to follow, there will be many times when following Him will take total dependence on, First, Trusting what He is doing to and for you. And then, Relying on Him and Him alone for guidance throughout the remainder of your life.
The "Desert Experience" is one of the experiences shared by many followers of Christ. It is during this kind of experience that these two actions will be vitally important. This is the subject of our study today.
Many people who have genuinely surrendered their lives to Christ will find, or have found themselves at a place in their walk with Him, where it seems He has "left" or "ignored" or even "forgotten" them.
These experiences are reported everyday by Christ's followers from all over the world at various intervals of their relationship with Him. So much so that there must be something important for us to understand about it.
Starting (of course) with the bible, we look for any evidence of this kind of experience to help us with understanding it.
Right away we see that many biblical characters encountered these 'desert experiences', (literally) such as the Israelites in the book of Numbers, Elijah's journey in the wilderness while in danger (1 Kings 19), David's refuge in the "wild places" while hiding from King Saul (2 Sam 1) and Jesus' own temptations in the Judean wilderness (Matt. 4).
There is also the 'interior desert' (solitude, withdrawal and seeming abandonment) such as the testing of Job and Jesus' experience in Gethsemane and Calvary.
Desert experiences have also empowered and left God's servants changed from divine encounters, such as the experiences of many in the Old Testament.
Paul also experienced the beginning of his transformation while on the desert road to Damascus. His conversion was further strengthened during a three year duration in the Arabian desert (Gal. 1: 17-18). Antony of Egypt gave away all his possessions and depended on God in a fourth century desert.
Many Christians desiring something more have followed a similar call. Some lived in solitude or sailed the oceans as missionaries as did the Irish monks in the sixth to tenth centuries. Others were transformed during extended illnesses while waiting for a miracle.
I have personally experienced this feeling of being in a spiritual desert. A confusing experience at times that was mixed with a confidence that I should not give up, but with worry that I had done something to deserve it, or that I had broken the last straw somehow (with God) and He might had given up on me.
I look back now and can see that even the confidence to keep going wasn't even my own. The desert was God, the longing for Him was His, and even my faith to continue was His. But what happened to me in that 'desert' is what is the key to why the Trusting In Christ and Relying Upon Him during these times is so important. What affect Gods purpose in that desert experience was for me was to my benefit.
Today, I have no home (of my own) so to speak. No car, no television, stereo, decorations, no stuff. The certificates, decorations, and awards from a successful military career are all gone. My outstanding Resume is useless.
Even some religious books that I had stored away were eaten by termites recently. I mean, it's just an amazing story of how it has all been stripped away.
Yet, the more I lost, the closer I got to Christ. In time, even my desire for the things of this world has gone. I am happier without those things than I ever was with them.
My desert experience has left me with a freedom that is more rewarding than I would have ever thought.
For nearly two years now, I have prayed for the Lords guidance about where to work and He has slammed every door imaginable. His distancing Himself from my ability to find work has forced me to live within the means that He has provided and I am better for it.
Along my desert experience, I have found a small oasis here and there, though. Places along my journey of going without, where I could find just enough rest. Just enough shade and a cool drink to get back up and keep on going.
God has actually been with me all along, but forced by His love for me to stay out along the ridge line of my life where He could still be there, but forcing me to press ahead toward maturity in His Likeness.
My desert experience has taught me to travel light. Carry only what I need for the journey. And not to look back or look down, but keep my eyes up on the ridge line or out on the horizon... where He is.
I don't know which way we are going to go tomorrow, but if I try to look at the map and how to get out of my desert myself, I am afraid I will miss which dune He went over.
I like it this way. If you are in the desert experience today, my friend, I pray for you. I would cry with you right now and share your pain with you. But I am also happy for you and I believe that you will be happier later. I trust in Him to be doing a mighty work in you and I am relying upon Him to complete His work in you. I hope this helps you today dear friend. Trust In and Rely Upon Him.
I Love you. |
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| To add a comment to "Experience The Desert" |
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| April 21, 2009 |
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| I know exactly what you are talking about - so right on. Incredible. Thank you so very much for sharing. Bless you, dear Preston. |
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| April 21, 2009 |
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| I believe you do, Dear Friend. How Blessed we are now. Amen? |
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| April 21, 2009 |
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| Amen. |
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| April 21, 2009 |
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Well now, I just tried to console Joey but I am telling her to come read this and it will answer the possible why of her pain.
I have spoken before of this but will repeat it for others who may not have seen it. In the movie Alive based on book by the same name, these people wreck in the Andes mountains and those that survived lived a terrible time awaiting rescue including injuries and starvation. They turned to cannabilism until found. Two men were injured very badly and were placed in makeshift hammocks. No pain meds, no food, couldn't do a thing for themselves. They weren't part of the planning team, the foraging team or helpers. They laid with nothing to do but talk to each other and they began to pray and found comfort. One of the men at the lowest valley just before he dies, said to the other, " I have seen God"
All was stripped away. All possessions, comfort, dignity, family and when there was nothing left, He saw God.
In the loss of two of my three children, I find myself less desiring of things. I have a friend who broke his neck in a diving accident. I led him to the Lord later. He said he has no desire for expensive clothes because he sees himself as a spiritual being more every day. I understood that even though I am not paralyzed.
Look around at what we have and it will burn up in rubble one day. What will last? Looking at things more and more in the light of eternity.
I love you brother! |
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| April 21, 2009 |
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| Juanita, I am so proud of your comments these days, and you know I am not talking down to you. We all have periods of spiritual growth and times when we just soak. But you are just on fire here lately. You know the movie Castaway is also another one that shows the purpose of going through tough times. A lot of people don't catch it, but the Fed Ex envelope he carries with him the whole island thing leads him finally to a woman we are lead to believe becomes his true mate. Anyway, There are millions of stories from people who testify to amazing purpose for desert experiences. Amen? I Love you. |
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| April 21, 2009 |
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| Preston,Tonight as I read your words it made me face up to feelings that I have had going on inside of me for almost three years. I haven't lost one of my sons to death but to alienation-his choice and it is like a cloud has been over me all this time. I've forgiven him and have tried to reach out, but reconciliation hasn't happened yet and it seems like the desert just keeps going on....until tonight when reading and crying from Juanita's loss and yet hearing the love in her words, has let me know that I will cast my care upon the Lord for He careth for me and I will walk through the desert and see who I can help along the way...I love you. |
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| April 21, 2009 |
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| I Love you to, Patty and I am just amazed at what this journey God has taken me (and now YOU, my friends) on in the study of love. I have been changed and I have listened to your testimonies and outpourings in love. I just am so happy right now. And then there is all the answered prayers I have seen here. Tonight is no exception. You have given me more to pray for and I am going to pray for your loved ones as though they were Christin and Justin, I can't imagine wht God will do next. God Bless you Patty. |
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| April 21, 2009 |
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You can cry with me, Preston.
Things are just things. It is the people I that I value and love
Joey |
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| April 21, 2009 |
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| Ok, Joey, this was scary,.. I just posted to your blog about your Dad,... was gonna punch out for the night and saw the notice about a new comment. Get here and you left this. Wow, God is great. I hope you read yours before you go tonight. I do love you so. I know it's hard sometimes. Please don't think it's weakness when you share with us. Love ya. |
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| April 21, 2009 |
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I praise God for all these honest hearts. I really am blessed to be a part of such a love, agape love, here.
I too expereinced the wilderness but if that didn't happen I know my walk with God would not be as close and as solid as it is now. I will NEVER let Him go again.............................
Praise God, He never let me go................................. |
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| April 22, 2009 |
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Thank you Yvelisse, It is true. Maybe it's what has made you such a joy and a blessing for us. Knowing you has made me thankful for the road that has brought me to know you. You know what I mean? I Love you Friend.
If someone has read this blog today who has just entered this desert experience, listen to the words of Him who has allowed this to happen.Hebrews 3:15 Then while it is [still] called Today, if you would hear His voice and when you hear it, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion [in the desert, when the people provoked and irritated and embittered God against them].
If you have never read "Love Beyond Death", here on my blog, I think you would enjoy it. Moses never left His Desert, but after he died, he did get to set foot in The Promise Land, because, Gods' Love NEVER ENDS. I Love you. |
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| April 23, 2009 |
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I know if it werent for staying close to God's Word and reading posts like this and the Prayers & Love of my friends, I migh be stuck out in that desert. I hae 2 sons who were with out work, my youngest just got a job yesterday THANK YOU God, His timing not mine, my prayers hasnt been for just my sons who seek employment but for ALL who are seeking it! Times are VERY hard today and know so many are suffering. My oldest is a whole other story! Like I said I can to be out in that desert, but I don't choose that for today! I WILL stay close to God and His Love, His Word. I WILL TRUST te process andknow in HIS time this too shall pass!
Thanks again Preston! God Bless you Have a wonderful day Donna S |
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| April 23, 2009 |
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| YOU, have chosen the right things, Donna. It seems that when you do stuggle,... it's over the wellfare of your Children and I am with you on that one. My children did not ask to be brought into this world and while I know God awaited their arrival long before I did, I am very responsible to them,... UNDER GOD. And so, they do take up the majority of my prayer-life, at times. Amen? I love you and thank you for your comments. |
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