More

 Now to Him who is able to do far MORE abundantly beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us. [Eph 3:20] God is a God of more. What do I mean? Whatever we ask of Him, whatever we can imagine Him doing for us, He can do more. Abundantly more. 

Let's pray and believe God for more. I don't know what that means for your situation. We all face different challenges where we need God's intervention. What is your more situation? Maybe it is multiple things. Do we really believe Ephesians 3:20 is true? Is God a God of more?

Let's believe Him for more souls to be saved. As long as there are unsaved people in this community I should serve and pray with a more mentality. How large does the church need to grow. My answer will always be one more until there are none more to be saved. I believe God for revival where more of His power is displayed. More repentance. More fire in the hearts of people. More spiritual awakening. More glory to God for the dramatic results. More prayer. More hunger for Him. More dedicated believers. 

Let's trust God for more finances for missions and kingdom of God causes. Let's trust dollars to be multiplied into hundreds, and hundreds into thousands, and thousands into millions. Not to pad our pockets, but to expand the work of God around the world. Let's trust God in our personal finances with more so we can give away more. 

May God enlarge our faith to believe Him for more. More contributors and fewer consumers in our churches. More sacrifice and service than convenience and being served. More dedicated followers of Jesus. More holiness and less hypocrisy. More fruit bringing God more glory. May we all be moved to believe God for more. No matter how impossible things look let's trust God for more. As a result, may God intervene in impossible and improbable ways so we have more testimonies to share. He is a God of more. Let's pray and believe that. 

Solitude in the Sancutary

I often retreat to the sanctuary in the middle of the week to simply sit before the Lord. I sit quietly reminding myself of all the spiritual victories that have been won in that space. I think of the many God encounters over the the years. I reminisce about all the sermons and salvations. I contemplate the weddings and the funerals. There is solace found there without the crowds. 

It is just God and me in those moments. Sacred moments. I sit and soak in His presence. He longs to be longed for by His people. Most Sundays we are so rushed I wonder how many times we miss Him. I'm contented with Him in the solitude of the sanctuary. No crowds. No musical instruments playing beautiful songs. No singers lifting up heartfelt worship. 

It is quiet. Gives me time to reflect. It affords me time to listen. To bask in His presence. He is what I yearn for most in this life. He is the object of my pursuit. I find Him in the still quiet places and moments. We commune in the solitude of the sanctuary. Sometimes I just sit. Other times I pray. On a few occasions I sing to Him. It is sacred time. 

Today, I sat in my usual seat staring at our white wooden cross surrounded by stained glass located above the baptistry. I thanked Him for opening the door and calling Brenda and I to move here. I thanked Him for the people who make up this church. I thanked Him for what He has already done in just over a year. I dreamed about all the seats filling up and needing to haul out more chairs. 

It was quiet. Just the sound of the building creaking under the force of the wind. I did not turn on any lights. I sat before the cross thankful that Jesus saved me. Humbled that He called me to the task of proclaiming His word and shepherding people. A task I am not adequate to do without Him. Thankful that I get to do that right here at First Southern in Fritch, TX, or Fritch America as the locals like to say. 

My worship encounters in the solitude of the sanctuary are sacred. They are focused. There are no distractions like the flow of the service, the sermon to be preached, and people all around me. Don't get me wrong. I love our worship services. Our worship team are anointed by God. Our people are enthusiastic in their worship. They truly hunger for God's word. They are encouraging to me. 

Sometimes you have to forsake the company of people to keep company with God. Jesus departed the crowds and found a deserted place to pray. Mark 1:35. We must do the same thing too. We live in a world of constant noise and hustle. Communing with God requires the opposite of those things. We need silence and solitude. You have to fight for those moments. You have to prioritize those times. When I leave the office and go to the sanctuary or the prayer room, there is always other work I could do. I took time to go to both places today. You know what? I have been more productive today than any day in the past few weeks. I studied for the message on Sunday morning, read scripture, and wrote more posts today than I can recall writing in one day in a long time. I think it all stemmed from some solitude time in the sanctuary.