Having had such a radical upswing in the Holy Spirit’s move in my life over the past year, and especially in the past few short months; I and others are wondering how sustainable being “up on the mountain top” is in the long run. So these valleys, troughs, and lowlands are also a part of life.
Trying to think this through, I know there are times that feel like long dry seasons, with no end in sight. Then I pull back and look at things from God's eyes, and I realize they are milliseconds; just momentary pauses so to speak.
C.S. Lewis wrote of the law of undulation, and it could apply to what is going on with the move of the Holy Spirit, manifested evidence of the supernatural, dunimus-type power, and even the lack of one or more of those too...things do go up and down.
I also hold to God speaking through nature; it takes time for a seed to germinate, it takes a freeze for apples to be produced, and it takes harsh weather and struggle for grapes to produce the qualities to make a great wine. Seasons are there for a reason and every season serves a purpose.
Even within a season, there are undulations in the conditions and weather. Even within a season there are so many changes…
So I should not be surprised by change, undulation, dry spells, or huge downpours…enjoy them all and stand in awe of God through it all.
I continue to contend for more of the Holy Spirit in my life and in the life of the Church. I also am working on being settled into the palm of Our Lord, that He knows what He's doing, and I just need to be the person he wants me to be.
I remember hearing someone say, in my response to my question on how best to pray: It's not what you pray or how you pray that matters; it is WHO you are when you are praying that does matter. I'll take that and also apply it to spiritual gifts, ministry, supernatural encounters, and in relationships.... working on WHO I am...and helping, guiding and encouraging others in their walk too.
So, this law of undulation is actually a great workout…getting me spiritually buff! There are times when it is full-bore powerful, with supersets of spiritual exercise and outpourings… There are also times of rest, of refining some of the basics of Christian fitness or even mixing things up a bit so as to cause a bit of “spiritual muscle confusion” so that my spirit does not get used to doing things the same way all the time…hitting a plateau and hindering any further growth. My spirit also needs some rest—even active rest, to allow for healing, mending, and creation of more spiritual muscle packed with God’s dunimus power!
I know I am sort of all over the place on this blog, yet I don’t apologize. I think this is also an exercise in mixing things up and breaking down some of the walls and hindrances in my thinking and writing. How fun is that! I’ll be back up on the mountain soon enough… It’s just my hope, desire, and passion, to grab some more people to join me on the trek.
God Our High Place, ROCKS!
NOTE:
If you want to quickly read the Law of Undulation element...click this link to my earlier blog entry...Letter #8 from Screwtape Letters (C.S. Lewis) is near the end of the entry.
Tempt To Virtue
http://faithbrothers.blogspot.com/2008/10/tempt-to-virtue.html
Keiger
2 comments:
that really resonated with me about it being more about WHO you are when you pray than about what or how. i'd been trying to figure out why sometimes prayer time is great and why sometimes it's not... and i think it boils down to that. i haven't really been paying much attention to who i am when i pray. it sounds selfish in one respect, but i don't think God finds it selfish at all. in fact, i think if we even partially knew who we TRULY are praying would be so easy!
The story of Elijah has always had a great impact on me. I love how God allows for renewal time for Elijah. He knows exactly what he needs and provides it.
I believe in the value of the journey. Yep, the mountaintops are fun, but the valleys are also powerful. That is when we really have to work out our faith. It is when we learn to develop real community and not just the fluff stuff. It is where God shapes our hearts to look more like His.
I believe God is always doing something. I may not feel it. I may not like it (at least at the time.) But God is always working.
One of my other favorite passages is, "and when you have done all (you can), stand." That wasn't an exact quote, but close enough. Sometimes it is okay to just stand.
I love our God, His heart, and how He is always working things for our good.
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