Friday Apr 12, 2013

The Art of Withdrawal

Jesus himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed. One day Jesus was teaching, and Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. They had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick.  Luke 5:16-17 KJV
  
Last week we learned that God has a specific plan for our lives and He wants us to rule well. Prior to moving ahead with the plan God has for us, we must learn the art of
withdrawing from our usual activities of life and being with Him. From a military analogy, we must have a spiritual retreat in order to prepare for our next spiritual advance.
  
In the opening text and throughout scripture, Jesus withdrawal for a time of prayer unto God provides a pattern worthy of emulating. Withdrawal simply means not available, to take something away or no longer a part of something. It is through selected times of withdrawing from people and the noise of life that we gain a fresh revelation and perspective of what God wants.  The text also reveals that Jesus withdrew often or regularly. Just like the song we all love, "Praise is what I do", we should equally love "Prayer is what I do". Praise and Prayer acknowledges our willingness to be in the presence of our Heavenly Father.
  
I have coined a phrase in my years of ministry that says "you must hide yourself before you show yourself." It has always been my duty to never stand before a people without laying before God. It's too easy, in our zeal to rush into plans and purposes for ourselves, families and ministries that opposes the will of God but feels right to us. God already has a plan and is simply looking for our obedience. We should never doubt the peace that exists on the other side of the noise of life.
 
When Jesus withdrew and prayed in the garden of Gethsemane, "Yet not as I will, but as You will," He offered a tremendous but seemingly simple insight into prayer: God is in charge. If we embrace the art of withdrawal, the power of the Lord will be with us as it was with Jesus as He carried out the Father's plan and purpose for His life.  
  
Love, Peace and Blessing,
Pastor Eric 
    

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