Dark And Empty

It is late Thursday afternoon. I just returned from a stroll through the sanctuary located right outside my office door. I went in there to pray. No lights. No crowds. No sounds other than the passing traffic outside. Just an empty dark sanctuary and yet I did not feel alone. God met me there.

I walked up to the front pew on the right side where my family has made our home the past two Sundays. I did not have an agenda. Just wanted to sit before the Lord. It is not the first time in my ministry I walked into a dark and empty sanctuary to pray and listen for the still small voice of God. I often did it at FBC Seminole sitting up in the balcony. On several occasions people came in and did not even know I was there.

Though the room was dark and empty in my mind I could see future days where the room would be filled with life, excitement and worshipers.

I got up and walked behind the pulpit. I gripped both sides with my fingers and prayed silently. I asked God for to fill that space with His presence before He fills it with people. I want people to encounter God when they walk in that room. To encounter Him through worship and through the pages and truth of the Bible. I want people to be encouraged, convicted, challenged, inspired, comforted, given direction, and to be able to lay down heavy burdens down. I long to see people matured as they feast on God's word in His presence. I want them to grow in their love and zeal for Him. I also want them to see the fruit of their prayers come to fruition.

There is no greater service I can do for this flock than to lift them before God. I am able to do that in the dark and empty sanctuary when they are busy about their daily lives. I do it to prepare my heart for this coming weekend of ministry. It is in the dark and empty times many ministerial battles are fought and won.

In the dark and empty sanctuary I can mentally see the faces of the flock in their seats. Some are in tears. Others are in deep concentration. A few sit quietly with smiles on their faces. Others worship. Some pray. My heart swells with new love for this flock God has entrusted to me.

I still feel like pinching myself. While I am well into my third week here at Spring Creek, when I walked into the dark and empty sanctuary, I could not help but thank God for choosing me to serve here. It is a blessing beyond words. It is still hard to believe God made this possible. This truly has been the desire of my heart for decades.