I have wondered in plenty of barren places over the 36+ years of following Jesus. Well I should say perceived barren seasons. They are perceived a certain way because of the teaching we have received that supports our mindset and understanding of the ways of God. It has always intrigued me what those places mean and what they are intended to work in us.
Valley of Fire National Park
There is no off season in the Kingdom of God. The Ways of God are always in season.
Ps 1 The open door to wisdom....His delight is in the law of the Lord
He is planted like a tree
planted by the streams of water
That yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
Graham Cooke has some foundational insights regarding the wilderness and the manifest presence seasons of our lives. I love that he has pointed out the ways of God in each and shown that there is no true barren place as we walk with the Spirit. Each part of the journey is, in the heart of the Father, designed to produce fruit and knowledge and understanding of Jesus. There is no off season in the Kingdom of God.
The manifest presence is wonderful. The hidden-ness of God is wonderful as well. Each experience produces life and love in a new and particular way. The hidden seasons, most often called deserts, are rich and transforming places of simple and true grace. Being stripped of all non-essentials is one of the deepest blessings of the journey with Jesus. We find him and the deepest truths lodging in our soul, mind and spirit with power and concrete surety. Real transformation, inner change, the kind that lasts for eternity, is forged in the hidden and desert places of the soul. All distractions cease and our attention is securely focused. When He speaks his voice resounds and clearly reverberates off the wall of our inner temple. Our God is a consuming fire. In the fireplace of his love new righteouness is woven into us. In the dry and desert places we learn to walk with faith. We become accustomed to walking without sight. We learn deeper truth. We see Jesus in daily moment to moment presence. Nothing strips away the truths written on us in the desert. We gain new understanding of Jesus and our relationship deepens. The most amazing blessing of the desert is we come to know the presence is ALWAYS. When we come to know the presence without emotion or sight we have entered into the heavenly tabernacle. From here the sight will never be the same.
I love the desert for all that it brings. Granted, it can be dirty. It is lonely. It is hot. It is difficult. It takes patient endurance to stay focused. But Jesus passes through this country with bounty and blessing. He does not fear the desert or downplay it. He is found there as in every other place as he fills everything in every way!
The desert is the foundry of God's amazing servants.
The desert is where the strong learn that their earthly strength is nothing in comparison to the glory of heaven filling their weakness. This is where we learn that we can do nothing without him. Heaven has to fill us if it is to fill the earth. Eternal things originate with the Father.
Manifest presence is equally wonderful. But we seem to prefer it. Sure, it is more like a well watered garden. It is easy to dwell in a lush place. When the manifest presence is pouring out on us it is time to "seek the Lord while he may be found". Priorities shift in manifest presence just as they do in the desert. We learn to give ourselves over to the overwhelming flood. We learn to surrender to the deeper ways of the Spirit. Fears rise and are overcome. We see all those who draw back in manifest presence. It is equally daunting to the places of the heart that are not surrendered. It calls out passion and first love. It runs past all barriers to engage Jesus. It worships, prays and seeks with emotion and strong desire. Generally manifest presence is an individual experience in a crowd. It can be in the closet, but often is wide and out in the open. It gathers in those far from him. It calls out with overwhelming power those whose hearts no longer feel. I love manifest presence.
Heaven focuses in not on where we are on the journey but who we journey with.
Jesus is who we follow, walk like, love like, and know the Father like. He can be known deeply in every season. Because he fills all things in every way and because he is bringing a Kingdom that does not spoil or fade we can know him in unlimited glory in every season. Deeper knowledge of the seasons helps us understand how to "agree with the Spirit" and embrace in fulness the glory of each season. Yet, it is Jesus who we find in each one. Just like the seasons of the world and love, we stay focused on our lover through the changing cycles of the world.
Walking in the fulness of His presence is an amazing grace that nothing compares to. Growing in grace and wisdom helps us stay focused in heart and surrendered to follow regardless of the seasons ease or challenge. Our goal is Christ Jesus. Our heart is fulness of joy in his presence. Interpreting the times and seasons does not make us closer. It helps us understand how to capture the fulness of grace, hope and love through faith in our LORD.
To uninhibited pathways of the heart after Jesus!
With love in the Lord,
Jeff Reynolds. Sr. Leader
Capstone Christain Fellowship
jreynolds@mycapstone.org
www.mycapstone.org
jeff@jeffreynoldsministries.com
www.jeffreynoldsministries.com
Comments? Ideas? Feedback? I would love to dialogue with you.
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Grace and Peace in Jesus.
