Interference...

[BenJammin]

Last night, my best friend preached a very powerful message.  He entitled it "The Importance of Being In His Presence".

He said we don't have to wait until we are at church to feel God.  He is wherever we are - work, home, car, church, school, etc.

He also said that we can get so caught up in what we know - i.e. doctrine, standards, scripture, etc. - that we no longer pay attention to the Spirit of God.

He read Luke 14:5-10

5. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
6. Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
7. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
8. Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
9. Jesus saith unto him, have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
10. Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

and said that we can sometimes be right next to God, but still not recognize Him.

Then, when he read through the passage from Luke 24:13-32

13. And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.
14. And they talked together of all these things which had happened.
15. And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.
16. But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.
17  And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?
18. And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?
19. And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:
20. And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.
21. But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.
22. Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;
23. And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.
24. And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.
25. Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:
26. Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?
27. And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
28. And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further.
29. But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.
30. And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.
31. And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.
32. And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?

I began to really understand exactly what it was he was talking about.  The disciples from Emmaus were walking with Jesus, talking with Him, listening to Him expound on the scriptures and they still didn't realize who was in their midst.  In fact, Jesus did everything but slap them around and say, "Look, Stupid, it's me!!!"  They were so caught up with their petty concerns that they couldn't recognize the one they had followed for so long.

I have found, especially in the past few months (maybe 2-3 years?) that I have had a hard time when it comes to really getting involved in church.  I get down to pray and it seems like there is so much interference and background noise that I simply can't concentrate.  Last night, I tried to pray and could literally hear my thoughts buzzing around inside my head.  Have I become like the disciples mentioned in Luke 24?  So wrapped up in my petty concerns and the affairs of this life that I can't seem to recognize God, even when I know He's right next to me? 

Sometimes I wish I could just start over in my walk with God.  I remember the enthusiasm I had when I first prayed through.  How I couldn't wait to tell all those around me.  Now?  I don't know.  Am I taking it for granted?  Have I grown cold and don't realize just how frigid I am?  Sometimes I feel like such a hypocrite, knowing what I'm supposed to be - expected to be - but just not quite there.  Putting on a brave face, knowing that I'm not fooling either myself or my God.

I don't know what I expect here.  Maybe just to know that I'm not the only one struggling with these emotions.  Anyone else ever feel this way?  Anyone have advice for a man longing to know God in a deeper sense that ever before, just not sure how to get there?

Thanks in advance.

BenJammin

[RainbowJingles]

Oftentimes when I struggle with connecting with God and rebuilding my relationship with Him after a rough spot in my life, I find that reaching out to others in ways that aren't normal for me is helpful.  It's a way of doing things unto the "least of these" and therefore doing them as unto the Lord.  It really helps cut through the layers of stuff that seems to surround me sometimes.  Reaching out can help us reach Him more effectively.

[RainbowJingles]

Focus on self: looking down   
Focus on others: looking out   
Focus in God: looking up   

:-)

At least, that's kind of how the progression works, anyway.  :-)