In a world that runs crazily 24/7 with noise and activity - even during resting or sleeping hours my head is often full of whirling busy thoughts and plans. I'm ever so thankful for the time spent in our Church's worship service, where the singing and, even the quiet instrumental music, stops so we can be silent before GOD, just to LISTEN for HIS still small voice. I find this practice, in my own private life with JESUS, invaluable - I couldn't survive, steadily, without it.
Recently I've been reminded of this, after spending a week of active vacation with my family, followed by a week of sickness - trying to get better on the run, for I really didn't have time for infirmity. What I also failed to make time for during my two week buzz, was quiet solitude with JESUS. The deficit I felt near the end of this spinning but empty stint, gave way to depressive and anxious thoughts. I'll end this little reminder by just saying that prayer and worship with a friend, and returning to a scheduled time of seeking the LORD in silence turned me around again to steadfast thinking and living.
Back to SILENT LISTENING time in Church...
Yesterday, God put in my mind an image of one of those plastic collapsible pill cups that ladies keep in their purse, sometimes with their days of the week pill cases, so as to take meds conveniently in the middle of the day. Just screw the cap off, twist the cup to its 3 inch height, fill it at the nearest drinking fountain - and your good. When I saw this simple image, I knew the cup represented our "reception" of God's SPIRIT in us, but didn't feel a strongly compelled to share it with the congregation, when the ministry time turned a different direction, I sat on it, then forgot about it. But as I've often found, when GOD wants to teach something, HE"ll bring thoughts back again - with flesh on. This morning as I worshiped, meditated on scripture and listened for HIS VOICE, the plastic cup image returned; this time it seemed to be filled with interpretation and I knew it was for the whole body.
In our spirits, too, there is a receptive "vessel," if you will, into which we may receive living water of GOD's HOLY SPIRIT. This living water, flowing from our bellies and welling up....," (John 7:38) is always available , every moment of a believer's life. BUT, our 'vessels' leak. "We leak," John Wimber, leader of the Vineyard movement for many years, was often quoted as saying. Because of this, we are commanded, instead of being "drunk on wine," "...to be filled.." - continually filled is the connotation of this exhortation - "...with the HOLY SPIRIT." (Eph. 5) Apparently, this condition of being "filled" is a tangible intoxication which effects our thoughts words and actions - like an alcoholic stupor would effect us in a noticeable way.
Many believers, I felt GOD speaking to me, carry their collapsible cups, packed neatly away, only to take them out at church or at shaky times - when a spiritual 'pill' is needed. We sip politely of the SPIRIT, while the HOLY SPIRIT is meant to be POURED OUT in buckets and waterfalls, and bubble up in streams. We should trade in our little plastic cups for wide-mouthed vats carried up on our heads, like those of Indian women returning to the river to draw water. And the drawing must be daily, as a people who live in a dry and weary land, where precipitation is scarce, are compelled to do. If we recognize our need for this HOLY SPIRIT intoxication, may we hear JESUS say to us, as HE invited the woman at the well, "...whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.." (John 4:13b)
Throughout my busy day I like to turn my palms up and open, and ask, "LORD fill me," and WAIT. My husband wrote a song, with part of the chorus, "...we will drink, if YOU will serve.." Good news!.., JESUS is WILLING to serve us a drink, every time we drain our vat. So, lets discard our collapsible cups, Church, stand beneath the waterfall, and drink deep.
