Anyway…lots of people like to say, “A leader can’t lead where he has never been.” I don’t think that’s true. I am trying to lead on a journey of worship, and I’ve never been there because I don’t know where we are going. I think a leader can’t lead where he is not willing to forge a way or go himself (or herself). In other words, if we can only lead to places we’ve already been where do we leave room for entrepreneurs and exploration to the unknown. We would be left without Columbus and the New World; Lewis, Clark, and the West; a man on the moon. We need people who will lead us into the unknown.
That’s where we are headed over the next 4-6 weeks. The unknown. But it started this week as we tried to put words to our longing for God. I’ve discovered that a lot of my time is spent praying for God to fill the gaps in my life. And I know He loves to do that. He loves to provide for my needs. But this past week I’ve been struck by the need to pray for God to make some gaps in me. I want God to create some longing in me.
Why?
Because God has some wonderful promises for people who long in life. Matthew 5:6 says, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” Filled. Filled to the top, overflowing, can’t contain it. Filled. That’s a promise worth having.
Isaiah 55 in the Message says:
Hey there! All who are thirsty,
come to the water!
Are you penniless?
Come anyway—buy and eat!
Come, buy your drinks, buy wine and milk.
Buy without money—everything’s free!
Why do you spend your money on junk food,
your hard-earned cash on cotton candy?
Listen to me, listen well: Eat only the best,
fill yourself with only the finest.
Pay attention, come close now,
listen carefully to my life-giving, life-nourishing words.
I’m making a lasting covenant commitment with you,
the same that I made with David: sure, solid, enduring love.
That’s a promise we would all like. Free, unmerited, unearned, unexpected generosity. An outpouring of sure, solid, enduring love.
The chapter finishes:
So you’ll go out in joy,
you’ll be led into a whole and complete life.
The mountains and hills will lead the parade,
bursting with song.
All the trees of the forest will join the procession,
exuberant with applause.
No more thistles, but giant sequoias,
no more thornbushes, but stately pines—
Monuments to me, to God,
living and lasting evidence of God.
What a picture! Your life turned from thistle to giant sequoia! My life, whole and complete. Us, monuments to God.
There’s only one problem. To hunger and thirst, you have to be in a place of want in life. You have to lack. And I am always asking for God to make my life without want. Without lack. Without longing. The promises are for those whose state of being is unfulfilled. Not a prayer I hear a lot. But I know that this is where the journey begins. My leap, our leap, into the unknown begins with an unsatisfied longing deep within our souls. Pray that dangerous prayer with me and let’s see where God leads us.
Today I missed breakfast and was hecka hungry, but as I was listening to my ipod, one of the songs was about seeking God for our nourishment. Imediately I started talking to God and seeking Him. Afterwards until noon my physical hunger had gone to the back of my mind and I realized that by having my focus on God He then became my strength for the morning. It was a great example for me to continuously seek God in my every moment which in turn opens my heart so the Holy Spirit can work in my life. As I allow God to work in my life everyday my longing for His will increases.
I agree with your notions about “A leader can’t lead where he has never been.” But I think that on the other side is how encouraging that line can be. The truth is that I have been taken to many many many places in life, and in some of them, I have learned to live worship (hosea 6:6 | I’m after love that lasts, not more religion. I want you to know God, not go to more prayer meetings. MSG) because I have been led by someone. And then, even though I have been there, because it is brokenness, I’m not necessarily willing to lead others there. I know it was good, but it hurt too bad.
With that in mind, I think it’s a great post. I’m going to use the thistle to sequoia imagery this weekend. Good job following where God is leading you.
I think this really ties into our discussion last week of pride and being poor in spirit. My mom had an interesting point: being poor doesn’t mean you are lower or worthless, it just means you are deficient in something – money, status, spirit, etc. It is recognizing that deficiency in yourself, noting that without the Holy Spirit you are incomplete. So I’m not “poor in spirit” because I am humble or willing to go without – I’m poor in spirit when I recognize my LACK – and when he fills that gap, that lack, that deficiency, I’m rich. I’m complete. I’m healed. The lack has been taken from me.
Worship was an interesting experience on Sunday. I was overcome with a spirit of brokenness and recognizing lack. I felt the Holy Spirit fighting with my will within me – and demanding that I return to the place of humility and reognize my deficiency. We sang a song new to our church on Sunday, “You’ll Come” by Hillsong, in which I think a serious moment of change occurred –
Chains be broken
Lives be healed
Eyes be opened
Christ is revealed
Wouldn’t it be amazing if, on this journey, that was our true prayer? A healed life is one where Christ is revealed. Wow. Am I healed? Is Christ revealed in me? And is that healing one in which my LIFE is healed, or just my church self?
Heavy stuff for a Wednesday morning.