Last nights discussion was very positive and uplifting. We had a chance to talk about the worship experience. Several people shared special moments they remembered in which they were inspired and illuminated by the Holy Spirit.
We talked about coming to church with your heart prepared to experience God. Someone said her mother taught her to begin preparing on Saturday evening.
I listened with keen interest as Doug spoke of the leading of the spirit during worship and how we have to learn through practice how to discern between creaturely activity and a revelation from God. He called Quaker Worship an art form, meaning it takes time to pick up on all of the subtleties of silent worship.
Worshiping God is something that comes from the heart and experiencing Jesus together in spirit and in truth can refresh your spirit and give you a chance to walk closer to Jesus.
I loved last nights discussion because to me, it got to the heart of the matter. Taking time to wait upon the Lord, opening your heart to him, telling him that you love him and wanting to draw nearer to him. Every Sunday we have a chance to be amazed at the power and the glory of our awesome Heavenly Father. Can we come prepared and humble ourselves so that he can show us who he is and what we can be through him? We say we are waiting on him but it is us he is waiting on. We must be refined in the spirit and that takes time, attention and soul searching. If you ask him he WILL show you what you need to work on. When God is silent it is always for a reason. Not because he's distracted, or busy, or doesn't care. It usually means the ball is in your court. But as long as you move forward and never stop talking to him, you will make progress. You will feel different, act different and you will want to be different. I often asking God to do things like show me what to do, tell me what to say, give me strength and show me the way. But is always his will that I am seeking. What would YOU have me do Father? My faith is strongest when I am aware of his guiding hand. When I can see him moving in my life. And I can see these things for what they are because I keep my eye on him. I am aware of his presence because my heart leaps for joy when he is near. I have come to love him because I have come to know him. He is faithful and he is constant. Don't be afraid of silence, it's part of the process, it's like spiritual rain. You grow in silence. It shows you have faith and will stop doing and learn to be obedient. If he wants you to wait then you can be sure it is for a good reason. He may sometimes be mysterious but he is always right and always listening. He loves you and he just wants your love in return because when you are loving him he can do his work. Wonderful things will happen far beyond what any of us could ever even begin to imagine.
Let us come to the meetinghouse this coming Sunday fully prepared to be with him and with our hearts ready to receive him. I think he would love the opportunity to move within our church in a mighty way. Let's just give God the chance to show us the way.
Next Week; We are discussing ~ The Quaker Family Tree.
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