The wilderness and the solitary place
shall be glad for them; and the desert
shall rejoice and blossom as the rose.
Isaiah 35:1
I thank God for the times in my life when, as a part of this spiritual journey, I have to be made to wander alone in the wilderness...
shall be glad for them; and the desert
shall rejoice and blossom as the rose.
Isaiah 35:1
I thank God for the times in my life when, as a part of this spiritual journey, I have to be made to wander alone in the wilderness...
For it is in such a solitary place, where the journey seems unending, that I have my most intimate and precious moments with the Lord.
Furthermore, it is in the wilderness, when the path is obscure and my steps uncertain, that such conditions actually help to keep pride from forming in my heart. Instead, I am forced to become more dependent upon Christ; I'm directionless without Him.
And this is the challenge for every Christian, I believe. We must keep ourselves from gradually developing a self-sufficient attitude, or from carelessly thinking that one's own abilities or strength is enough to get through life.
Rather, our strength comes from the Holy Spirit. He alone gives each of us the ability to serve God. And it is the "fruit of the spirit" (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and self-control) which the Lord wants to develop in our lives. His desire is that we fill the world with the sweet scent of His love. And it takes many travels through the wilderness to accomplish this.
D.B.
Furthermore, it is in the wilderness, when the path is obscure and my steps uncertain, that such conditions actually help to keep pride from forming in my heart. Instead, I am forced to become more dependent upon Christ; I'm directionless without Him.
And this is the challenge for every Christian, I believe. We must keep ourselves from gradually developing a self-sufficient attitude, or from carelessly thinking that one's own abilities or strength is enough to get through life.
Rather, our strength comes from the Holy Spirit. He alone gives each of us the ability to serve God. And it is the "fruit of the spirit" (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and self-control) which the Lord wants to develop in our lives. His desire is that we fill the world with the sweet scent of His love. And it takes many travels through the wilderness to accomplish this.
D.B.
