Retreat, not defeat.

Written May 23, 2007

Due to the recently developments in my own life, the need for withdraw has become evident. This is not defeat, but a retreat into the arms of our loving, all-merciful God, for direction in every area of life. I believe we need to do some serious prayer, and make certain we are right in the middle of God's will for our lives.

Jesus withdrew from everyone all throughtout His ministry on earth, like in Matthew 26:36 "Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto his disciples, Sit ye here, while I go yonder and pray." Mark 1:35 says "In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there. " (NASB) We need to be doing the same thing. We need to "head for the hills" and go off to pray to make sure we're where God wants us, and that we're ready for where He's about to take us. Luke 5:16 says "...Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray." Jesus withdrew often, and so should we. Jesus knew the importance of reliance on God and it is through obedience that we begin to learn how easy it can be to trust Him with our lives. Sometimes I think we get too busy, perhaps even with ministry, and we need to retreat and make sure we're right where God wants us.

Acts 3:19 says "Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; " This is our need today. We need to repent of wrongs, turn to God, have our sins forgiven, and then trust God for a glorious time of refreshing in our lives. Proverbs 3:6 says "In all your ways acknowledge Him,
         And He will make your paths straight." When we retreat into the arms of our Daddy we can go forth in confidence and trust that we are doing what God would have us do. And when we read in Isaiah 30:15 “In repentance and rest you will be saved,In quietness and trust is your strength.“

Have you got a word from God? It can make all the difference in the amount of stregnth you have facing problems in your life.

I would like to leave you with this thought: Jesus still saves, He still heals, still delivers, He still baptizes in the Holy Spirit and fire. Jesus is still coming again. Jesus has not changed. The Bible has not changed. The Holy Spirit has not changed. Yet somehow our experiences within Christianity have changed. Perhaps the Bible we say we believe in, is the Bible we actually do lip-service and not much more.What could we receive, if we knew God wanted us to? Open the Bible and see what God wants for you, today!