Maneuvers - No. 60
In the
Deep Place
Have you ever wondered what’s at the lowest parts of the sea, friend? In 2019, explorer Victor Vescovo became the first person to dive into the deepest points of all five oceans.
During his trip into the southern end of the Mariana Trench, he reached a jaw-dropping 35,853 feet underwater–the deepest manned sea dive ever recorded.
Each of his dives revealed new discoveries, new creatures (strange-looking yet stunning), and new insights.
Victor spent countless hours planning and training and testing because he knew something important… he was made to plunge into the depths. It was his life’s work–his calling.
We, too, were made to plumb the depths–the depths of God’s heart and of our own souls.
Do you feel that mysterious pull, friend? That tug within that draws your attention to the unknown, the deeper places of loving and knowing Jesus?
While the world tries to distract us with sounds and lights and temporary thrills, Holy Spirit is quietly yet consistently calling us deeper. Are we willing to follow? Are we willing to discover more of his love, understand more of who he made us to be, ask burning questions, and simply be with him?
It might be uncomfortable at times. We might discover things about ourselves that we don’t like. But we might also uncover new longings, new challenges, new invitations. And we’ll certainly experience a stronger and more satisfying relationship with our heavenly Father.
Holy Spirit is inviting us to go deeper today. Let’s listen…
01.
The Message
“Where are you? Do you hear me asking? Do you feel my words speaking in you, calling you to me now? Where is the one I love? Where is the one I made? Where is the one I search for? I know you, and I seek you. I ask you where you are because I want you to know the state of your heart.
“Beloved daughter, beloved son, the time is short, not long, for you to receive your inheritance. I give you all of me now. You do not have to wait to receive me. So where are you? In a place of openness? In a place where the walls are high and thick, the doors shut? Do you want me here, with you, in you? Do you want to know me more?
“I know the answer to these questions. But I ask you because I want you to not be passive. I want you to awake to the invitation before you–the invitation to go to the depths with me, the depths within you. For I am in you now. Go to discover me, discover you.
“It is beautiful here, in these depths–it is safe and good, a place of peace, a place of contentment. Let me draw you deeper now, past the noise and clamor, past the insecurity and doubt. Go to the deep place–the place in your heart that is craving me–a place of thirst, a place of hunger. Remember what your soul knows: I have named you, and all other names–given to you by yourself, given to you by the world–are not most true.
“Listen again to what I call you. Ascribe again to what I see in you. Keep close to me, in this open place within you, and you will engage your soul that knows heaven, the part of you that was made before time, the soul that knows where it belongs and stays attached–all the way–to me.”
02.
Listen
Holy Spirit asks, “Do you want to know me more?” What is your response to that question? What stands in your way? Let’s write out a prayerful response to the Lord.
03.
Think
“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me” (Revelation 3:20, NIV).
1. Where has your longing for God grown numb? How do you need God to awaken your desire for him?
2. What stops you from going deeper with God? What do you need to surrender to accept his invitation?
3. Think about the last time you met with God in the depths, in a place of longing and hunger. What was that experience like? What did you feel? What did Holy Spirit say to you?
04.
Trust
We don’t have to be in a special place to meet with God. We don’t have to accomplish certain tasks in order to feel close to him.
He’s all around us. In us. Speaking to us.
The truth is that because we’re already his children, we already have full access to him. All we have to do is open our hearts and receive.
So let’s do that now, finding a quiet spot where we feel the freedom to move or speak or even cry aloud. Next, let’s put on a worship song that expresses our longing for God–perhaps one that has moved us deeply in God’s presence before.
As we worship, let’s assume a position of surrender and longing. As we close our eyes, we can lift our arms out, tilt our heads back, and tell the Lord we love him… we hunger for him… we want to go to the deep places with him.
As the song continues to play, feel free to assume whatever posture you believe symbolizes your openness and desire for God.
Lastly, let’s read Psalm 63:1-5 aloud as a prayer to the Lord:
You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you;
I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you,
In a dry and parched land where there is no water.
I have seen you in the sanctuary
And beheld your power and your glory.
Because your love is better than life,
My lips will glorify you.
I will praise you as long as I live,
And in your name, I will lift up my hands.
I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods;
With singing lips my mouth will praise you.
05.
Pray
Father, there’s no limit to who you are and your love for me. Awaken my heart to long for you more than ever before. I want to dive deeper and experience all of who you are and see all you made me to be.
I surrender these fears and longings for other things besides you. You’re worth far more than anything else in this world. I choose you.
I love you, Lord. Draw me closer now.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
Waving the banner with you,
