I’m ashamed to admit this as a pastor but recently I went four days without praying. Trust me, I could feel the coldness of the distance. It’s amazing how prayer is the most important aspect of our existence and yet we often wander from the source of our survival. There’s even something worse than not praying for four days…THE LIE THAT BUILDS UP.
Here’s the lie. The enemy will tell you that access to heaven is closed because of the distance you created between God and you. The enemy will try to reflect his nature upon God. What is his nature? Grudges, lies, and animosity. The goal is always to take us away from grace and bring us back to works. It’s always the plan.
I have good news. God is not like us. He’s not even like the best of us. He doesn’t close up heaven based on our decision to disconnect from Him. He doesn’t hold grudges and keep score. In fact, He tells us to “Come boldly to the throne of grace in time of need.” There’s no need to be quiet about coming back to His presence.
I decided to stop the lie and just entered His presence, thanking Him for His patience with this piece of clay. Here’s what happened…time in His presence was just as sweet as before. What a God who welcomes us back even when we become distant. Next time you feel unworthy to be in His presence, stop, and realize that’s the point. We are unworthy but Jesus doesn’t care. He simply says, “Welcome home.”
Great article written with liberating love and truth! Our God is not one of grudges, He is a God of grace, deliverance, restoration and joy! Thanks Pastor Matthew for a word that will set church captives free!
Alot exposed right there! Transparent and dips into that word the devil hates! ABSOLUTE truth! When we know who we are and who we belong to he cant trick us quite so easy!!!
Your comments are so true, David Rhoades. I love your analogy between husband and wife and connection. I believe one of the enemy’s #1 schemes is isolation/disconnection. Thanks for sharing!
Amen.
This is a truth that is so easy to not live out. When my wife and I don’t connect because we are so busy, we don’t get mad at the other, we plan a date and enjoy each others company.
Of course, when we don’t connect we are more prone to stress or to take something the wrong way and the more we connect the more we ‘get’ each other.
When I connect with God regularly, I ‘get’ Him more. I am more prone to praise and not complain when the trial comes. If I miss Him for a bit I always finding Him welcoming me home.
Thanks again for a great post
A reminder of God’s goodness. I’m sure I will read this a few times.
Cool post. Love it!
Cool post. Love it! I love the picture also!
Such a good post! Sometimes we don’t realize how BOLD we feel in our prayer life when we are consistent and how timid we feel when we miss a time or two. The enemy is quick to pounce when we miss the mark. I would love to say that I never believed the lie that you believed however it is way to easy.
Just because we have “Pastor” in front of our name doesn’t mean that we are exempt from the enemy to go and heap condemnation on us.
Thanks for always being transparent and real about where you are and what you have been through! You live a life that inspires so many!!
Blessings!
Thank you for this. There’s times when I feel secluded (being a stay-at-home wife) and when that creeps in I notice a lack in my walk with God, whether through prayer or through reading the Word. It’s like immediately Satan steps in telling me I’m not good enough, I’ve got to “earn” my way back, all the lies he needs to keep me where I’m at or push me further away. Pride has often kept me away longer than necessary, but God’s arms are always open. Thank you for sharing this. There’s comfort knowing that others go through and come out of the same or similar situations.
Great post, Pastor! I believe one of the enemy’s greatest schemes is isolation/disconnection, first from God and then from each other. Thanks for sharing the Truth!
Love it! Just want to say I finished your book last night and theres no words to explain what its done and will do for me. I feel it shoved my spirit into a growth spurt …i know the change won’t be immediate outwardly …but in my spirit I know the change thats come about. And I’m very excited to see it manifest! Thank you for the seed you sow into my life,,,
I just heard a sermon talking about It’s Not About You and how God’s purpose is more about His glory than us. It totally freed me that as you said God’s expecations for us are minimal. So when we fail to get in His presence, He’s still focused on His Glory and waiting on us and ready to receive us again.
Amazing how such a little lie can have such an impact on ones life! Whats interesting is that it began with a personal decision, led to a lie, distanced you from God and yet still ended in grace. “Free Will”, a great addition to humanity, shows God just how much we love and need him.
LOVE this! It’s also a wonderful application for someone who feels undeserving of God’s love in general. They believe the lies of the enemy that they aren’t good enough or worthy. The truth of the matter is NONE of us is worthy, but that’s the beautiful of grace. While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. He loves us so much that Jesus paid the ultimate price so that we would have the right to be redeemed and called his own. Incredible! What an awesome and wonderful God we serve. Thank you Pastor Barnett for being so transparent and sharing this wonderful illustration.
Great comments everyone! Fantastic!
Pastor Matt, thank you for being so HOT, honest, open and transparent.
Loved it Pastor Matt! I totally relate to it. Last week I went on vacations, and it was hard to find the time for praying because we were doing activities all day long, get up really early and when I went to bed I was so tired. So it was for 4 days, and on day 4 I realized I was really cranky all the time, and I felt really bad about it, though I was on vacations I didn’t find peace. So the Holy Spirit opened my eyes and convinced me in my heart that my cranky humor was because I didn’t spend time with the only one who can bring peace and joy. It was amazing to me that though I were distant, He wasn’t. When the Holy Spirit convinced me, and I repent and cry out to him, He wasn’t upset with me, He just loved me. Greetings from Argentina! :)
Thanks for your reminder of grace. This is so much lacking in many attitudes and it is so important to know that when we mess up,God still welcomes us. Thanks.
I must say we are kindred spirits! I love how you pour out truth in your blogs. I see God blesses you abundantly!
Be Blessed!!
Timely word. Thanks, i just experienced a similar situation, and you could never be more right. He’s waiting for us to come back, but the lie buildup stands in the way…. and it gets larger and larger until a prayerless life becomes the norm leaving us in the cold, powerless and helpless, disconnected from the source. Very timely… Thank u
Definitely so TRUE! As a pastor I find myself feeling the same way & it does begin to feel harder to come to Him in prayer. When that does happen I find my boldness approach turns to a shameful humiliation thinking how can I ask of anything when I haven’t even taken time with you! But your blog just shed so much light & truth on the Grace of God and it’s right! Jesus is the same Yesterday, Today, & Forever!
Thanks again!