JUNE 28, 2022
I NEVER MOVED
While cleaning at the church, I found this little guy. The first thing I noticed was how dry and cold he was. Frogs are normally a little cool, but they are always at least damp. He was almost to the front of the sanctuary and had gotten as far as his little body would go. He was also almost dead. I took him outside and set him in the grass with the sun shining on him and tended to other things. When I checked on him later, he was gone. Thankfully he must have warmed up and hopped away. Rescuing him when I did gave allowed him another chance to live.
Benny likes to tell a story about a young couple in love. When they got married, she sat in the middle console seat of his truck. He could easily put his arm around her, and she would lay her head on his shoulder. As the years flew by, the young couple aged. One day she was looking out the passenger window, quiet and pensive. The elderly man asked what she was thinking, and she answered, “I was just missing the days we when you drove with your arm around me, and we snuggled.” He was quiet for a minute, then replied, “Honey, I never moved.”
I’ve had seasons in my life that I felt God’s presence so close I could feel His arms around me. In my mind, I would climb in His lap and sit, just to enjoy His presence.
I’ve had other times that I felt like my prayers were hitting the ceiling and I wondered, “Where are you God?” My heart was dry, cold, and I was lonely.
Fairly recently I’ve experienced season of “dry, cold, and alone.” I was tired, worn, and weary. I felt like I put fires out and attended to emergencies all day, and I just didn’t have anything left to live with purpose. I felt like I was just surviving day to day. I ignored the actions that kept me close to God. During this desolate time, brick by brick I started building a wall between my Savior and me. I didn’t do it intentionally, but it was going up just the same.
One day, April, a sweet sister in Christ was getting ready to leave after visiting and asked, “You wanna to pray?”
Without missing a beat, I replied, “Nope. I really don’t.” I was in a dark place, and I didn’t want to fake it with God. He knew my heart wasn’t right.
She spoke to God in a pure and uncontaminated conversation on my behalf. Even being where I was emotionally, I was thankful for that prayer.
Eventually, I could not stand it anymore, and I took inventory of my actions. I wanted to look back and see the exact path I’d traveled away from His best. Each act of willful disobedience had put another layer of brick up.
These bricks were:
~ Questioning His goodness
~ Believing satan’s lies
~ Choosing my to-do list over His Word or His presence
~ Throwing up quick prayers, only when I needed something
~ Refusing to listen to that still, small voice
~ Desiring things I knew were outside God’s will
~ Ignoring the Holy Spirit’s promptings
~ Willful disobedience, then hiding because of my actions
~ Blaming others
**Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.” Isaiah 41:10,13
GOD NEVER MOVED. I had scooted away from Him to the passenger seat, then asked why I couldn’t feel His arm around me. No matter how high or thick I built that barrier, God continued to whisper to my heart and hold His hand out to woo me back into His presence. He never left; I chose to leave Him hanging.
When I came to my senses after feeling like I would spiritually freeze to death, I cried out to my Creator. He pointed out each brick in the wall and how it got there.
~ I combated satan’s lies with His Word, I prayed about temptations.
~ I started paying more attention to the condition of my heart and my mouth.
~ I intentionally set aside time in His Word and His presence each first thing each morning whether I felt like it or not.
~ I tried to keep a better eye on my spiritual temperature.
While holding His hand, my heart warmed up and I didn’t feel so alone anymore. I scooted closer to Him and could feel His presence again.
LORD, today was a hard devo to write. I love my privacy. So being honest and transparent publicly is not in my comfort zone. But I know this is how You deal with my heart, and I know I am not the only one to travel through “dried up, cold, and alone” seasons. So, if someone else is dealing with this, please show them the individual bricks between them and You. Give them the desire, energy, strength, and courage to start tearing that wall down and bask in the life-giving Son-shine again. Lead them step by step until they are back in Your arms. Thank You for never leaving or forsaking us, even when we scoot away. Thank You for those who come along and offer prayers on our behalf and encourage us. In Your Precious Name, amen.
**It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; He will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” Deuteronomy 31:8
**Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6
**Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9
**I will not leave you or forsake you. Joshua 1:5b
THERE WAS JESUS
ON THE PORCH 