Maneuvers - No. 94
A Holy
Moment
Have you felt close to God this week, friend? Or has it been hard to sense his presence?
C.S. Lewis once said:
“We may ignore—but we can nowhere evade—the presence of God. The world is crowded with him. He walks everywhere incognito.”
We love this quote. It’s a great reminder that no matter what we do or where we go or what we think, God is close. He’s here. He’s Immanuel: God with us.
And yet, we don’t always feel him close, do we? We (Jennifer and Justin) have yet to meet one person who has felt God’s presence in a tangible way at all times.
Instead, we’ve all had moments when we felt distant from God or alone. Maybe we wondered, Jesus, where are you? Why do you feel so far away? Why won’t you speak to me?
As C.S. Lewis eloquently pointed out, though, God hasn’t gone anywhere. He’s still with us.
And if we’re willing, Holy Spirit is eager to show us how to engage him—even in those cold, distant moments. We can find him there. And we don’t have to go anywhere to do it. We can enjoy an experience of heaven right within our own hearts.
So come, join us as we listen today.
01.
The Message
“This moment is holy. I make everything holy. You can stay here, in the place where you are: in my presence but a bit removed from me. Or, you can participate in what is unfolding in and all around you—an experience of heaven in the place where everything for you begins: in your heart. Welcome me deeper into your heart.
“I am measureless, so you cannot measure the degree I am in you or the degree I am not. Likewise, you cannot determine my existence by whether or not you sense me. Your mind cannot fully understand me. Your emotions may or may not be stirred by me. But your heart knows me—and has always known me—whether or not you realize it. So, let’s get you in touch with your heart.
“I am here now, within you. That is how you hear me. Because of my Son, there need not be any separation between us. He came so that we can be together fully. So the hesitation you have—the doubt—can be overcome. Watch anxiety melt away as you get to know me more. We are more than connected, you and I. Your heart is my heart; my love for you motivates me to do everything I do—and everything I do is good.
“Find transformation within you possible as you engage me in the life of your heart. When you do this, you will ponder less about what does and does not make sense in this world, and rather, you will surrender your questions and curiosity to me. I will help you worry less about trivial matters and guide you toward the source of love, which energizes and restores you, and invigorates what you do and think.
“I love you—there is no human explanation for it. I love you—let that be what you most, more than anything else, believe.”
02.
Listen
In one sentence, sum up what you feel Holy Spirit is saying to you through today’s message. What does that sentence mean to you personally? Let’s pull out our journals and write out a response to our heavenly Father.
03.
Think
“He is not far from any one of us. For in him we live and move and exist” (Acts 17:27b-28a, NLT).
1. What circumstances make it feel like God is far away?
2. In what areas of your life do you want to feel closer to Jesus? Or be more aware of his presence?
3. What worries or anxieties does God want to address in your heart right now? What is he saying to you about those thoughts? Or about the circumstances surrounding them?
04.
Trust
This week’s FLAG message began: “This moment is holy. I make everything holy.”
This is the heart of one of the very first things God ever said to Moses. When Moses encountered God through the burning bush, the Lord said, “Do not come any closer. … Take off your sandals for the place where you are standing is holy ground” (Exodus 3:5, NIV).
The next verse tells us that “Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God” (Exodus 3:6, NIV).
Can we imagine ourselves in Moses’ place at that moment? Standing in front of a completely holy, pure, powerful God. Hearing his majestic voice. Seeing a miracle (a burning bush that doesn’t burn up) right in front of us. Knowing we don’t at all deserve to be there.
Is it any wonder Moses was afraid? Or that God warned him not to come any closer?
And yet, because of what Jesus did for us on the cross, we can come closer now. Jesus destroyed that separation between us and our heavenly Father.
Now, “in [Jesus] and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence” (Ephesians 3:12, NIV).
And “since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus … let us draw near to God with a sincere heart” (Hebrews 10:19, 22a, NIV).
Instead of saying, “Do not come any closer,” our heavenly Father now tells us, “Come closer. And closer. And closer.”
So let’s close our eyes right now and breathe … slowly and deliberately. After a few deep breaths, let’s ask ourselves, “What makes it hard for me to draw close to Jesus? Or to feel close to him? What distracts me or makes me afraid or ashamed?” Let’s write down whatever comes to mind as we ponder these questions.
Now, let’s look at our list again and ask Jesus to show us how he carried every single one of those things on the cross for us. Can you picture him taking those burdens away from you? Suffering for them? Defeating them?
How does that change the way you view God? Or the way you view his love for you?
Let’s pray …
05.
Pray
Father, you’re close to me. You live in me. As holy and powerful as you are, you still love to be with me. I’m so thankful.
Help me surrender the lies, fear, and shame that make me feel separated from you. Show me how to engage you in the life of my heart. Teach me to care less about trivial, temporary matters and let you lead me in joy and peace. I want to grow in hearing your voice.
Guard my wandering heart, body, and mind. Help me trust you at every moment. I love you, Lord.
In Jesus name, amen.
Waving the banner with you,
