It is only God who can draw us out of this place of 'Nothingness' legitimately. Of course we can take ourselves out at anytime, we can get tired and frustrated with it, we can doubt that God is even involved, we can think He has forgotten us but if we have truely committed ourselves and become disciples then we will wait for God's timing.
It may take a long time. This can be part of the 'long trail' of discipleship. It helps to always remember that God wastes nothing and we are here for a reason.
And the time does come. Moses didn't stay in the desert forever, Joseph didn't stay in prison forever and David didn't stay in his cave forever and even though all these men of faith could have moved sooner, they waited. So did Jesus - about thirty years before He started His obvious earthly ministry. I am sure He was being prepared all those years just as we are in this period of apparent 'Nothingness'.
So watch and wait and let God surprise you!
Showing posts with label nothingness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nothingness. Show all posts
Friday, November 5, 2010
Friday, October 15, 2010
Inside 'Nothingness'
As being in a place of 'Nothingness' in God is actually being in Him what does this mean? I believe it means being in the centre of His will - right where He wants you. In other words you are there because He wants you there - so there is no need to feel frustrated, irritated or confused.
Yet this place of 'Nothingness' is not nothing in the usual sense of the word. You are not bored or feeling helpless or hopeless instead there is a heightened sense of awareness. And this awareness is associated with God and also with where He has placed you.
There is nowhere that excludes God's presence. Even King David said, 'If I make my bed in hell,behold, You are there.' (Ps 139:8)
Yet this place of 'Nothingness' is not nothing in the usual sense of the word. You are not bored or feeling helpless or hopeless instead there is a heightened sense of awareness. And this awareness is associated with God and also with where He has placed you.
There is nowhere that excludes God's presence. Even King David said, 'If I make my bed in hell,behold, You are there.' (Ps 139:8)
Monday, October 11, 2010
Sitting in the Space
In my book 'Kick Addiction' I titled a chapter 'Sitting in the Space'. I have had more comments about this chapter than any other.
'Sitting in the Space' is that space we often feel after temptation - when we have finally resisted our temptation - and expect, at the very least, some sort of reward even if it is just praise. We want the angels to sing, the violins to play, so we can hear them! And yet what we so often get is - Space. It is a type of the 'Nothingness' I wish to explore. But only a type.
As we continue to 'Sit in the Space' and keep resisting the temptation to walk away, to make something happen, to turn to one of our idols for sad comfort God will eventually, in His time, reveal Himself in a new way.
This process is a surprising gift. It builds our faith, stretches us and forces us to grow toward Him. Ofcourse we can resist and turn away at any time because we always retain our right to use our will as we choose. But if we are a disciple of Jesus Christ, more than simply a believer or even a follower, then we will have given up our right to ourselves and we will persevere. And we will wait in this pregnant space to see what God will do.
'Sitting in the Space' is that space we often feel after temptation - when we have finally resisted our temptation - and expect, at the very least, some sort of reward even if it is just praise. We want the angels to sing, the violins to play, so we can hear them! And yet what we so often get is - Space. It is a type of the 'Nothingness' I wish to explore. But only a type.
As we continue to 'Sit in the Space' and keep resisting the temptation to walk away, to make something happen, to turn to one of our idols for sad comfort God will eventually, in His time, reveal Himself in a new way.
This process is a surprising gift. It builds our faith, stretches us and forces us to grow toward Him. Ofcourse we can resist and turn away at any time because we always retain our right to use our will as we choose. But if we are a disciple of Jesus Christ, more than simply a believer or even a follower, then we will have given up our right to ourselves and we will persevere. And we will wait in this pregnant space to see what God will do.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Nothingness
How strange it is. I have only just discovered how to find out how many people have been visitng my blog. There were far more than I ever imagined. But I didn't know and I felt as though I was just speaking to myself all the time. And I guess because I stopped being active you have all dropped off. I mean why would you look if there was nothing more to look at!
Anyway now I know so I hope you all come back and visit again and this time I will keep on going. This is the problem when you are not so computer literate but I am learning and isn't this what life is all about. How exciting that we can continue to learn not only about our world but even better - about our God.
Recently God has been speaking to me about 'Nothingness' and over the next few blogs I would like to share a little of what I am learning. Today I will just start with a quote from Oswald Chambers in his book 'Not Knowing Where'. I so love Oswald Chambers' work. He is my mentor.
This is what he writes, 'When God puts the dark of 'nothing' into our experience, it is the most positive something He can give us. If we do anything at this point it is sure to be wrong. We have to remain in the centre of nothing and say 'Thank you' for it. When God gives us nothing it is because we are inside Him, and by determining to do something we put ourselves outside Him. This is a great lesson that few of us seem to learn.' (Oswald Chambers 'No Knowing Where' Discovery House 1957,1989 p83-84)
Think about this.
Anyway now I know so I hope you all come back and visit again and this time I will keep on going. This is the problem when you are not so computer literate but I am learning and isn't this what life is all about. How exciting that we can continue to learn not only about our world but even better - about our God.
Recently God has been speaking to me about 'Nothingness' and over the next few blogs I would like to share a little of what I am learning. Today I will just start with a quote from Oswald Chambers in his book 'Not Knowing Where'. I so love Oswald Chambers' work. He is my mentor.
This is what he writes, 'When God puts the dark of 'nothing' into our experience, it is the most positive something He can give us. If we do anything at this point it is sure to be wrong. We have to remain in the centre of nothing and say 'Thank you' for it. When God gives us nothing it is because we are inside Him, and by determining to do something we put ourselves outside Him. This is a great lesson that few of us seem to learn.' (Oswald Chambers 'No Knowing Where' Discovery House 1957,1989 p83-84)
Think about this.
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