Lord, please don't let this be a two-week thing...
Mid-summer Christianity is an odd bird.
Sometimes its stunning to think of.
Sometimes you wanna rip your hair out.
The world is flooded for a few months with a swell of Gospel-carriers. Youth groups in slums you never knew existed. College students, absolutely nuts about Christ, backpacking through Europe and nomadic steppes. Right now there are Christians sharing the Gospel for the first time with someone who is receiving it with joy! Yes, so many haven't heard the name of Christ... and YES, we really blow it in short-term missions... often... but for a few months the American Church hikes up her long jean skirt, gives up Her time and resources, and takes a jab at it. Somewhere between Jesus saying "Go" and Revelation's multi-ethnic worship service, people are going. Albeit clumsily as we go, the Bride walks into the harvest fields and, with shaking knees, obeys.
Yes... I said "jean skirt"...
Mid-summer Christianity is more than over-seas missions work... ya know? On the outside it looks like Bible camps, men's retreats, church camp-outs, women's conferences, and CREATION FEST. But on the inside it's about taking some serious steps deeper into the heart of God, cozying up to Him, and staying there. It's about experiencing God first-hand and not just learning more about Him.
There are some who will go seeking God in summer events and return broken, beat-up, and alone... sometimes because of sin but often because The Holy Spirit is doing a distinct work on the heart - bidding one to a spiritual intimacy deeper than a tingling of the senses can attain. But most, however seem to experience some new and profound dimension of God's heart that grips and captivates them. We blow off the dust from our Bibles, stick our noses deep in the recesses of forgotten scriptures, and remember how to pray.
And then... We come back from our Mid-Summer experience with God, get on our knees and through tears and clenched teeth we scream something like:
Oh God, PLEASE don't let this just be a summer thing!
All the while there's this lump in the back of our throat tossing with fear, "I'm terrified that in a couple weeks my life will not have changed one bit." We pray that prayer hoping in the off-chance that if we scream it loud enough and mean it hard enough God might keep the ball rolling.
I want to press hard on that lump in our throats until we remember that we have unlimited, unconditional, unrestrained, inexplicable access into the presence of God Almighty through Jesus Christ. Any time, any day, any where.
A steady, rhythmic, even-paced, daily walk with God in devotion trumps summer "highs" every time. For the one who walks steadily with their God, the mentality shifts to: All the time, every day, everywhere.
You're not in India anymore... SO? The Lord of The Nations goes with you - walk with Him and the flame in your heart for the lost will grow. You don't have a charismatic preacher letting loose on you for 3 sessions a day... SO WHAT? The God who spoke stars into the sky and breathed your first breath deep into your lungs has something to say to you and will speak if you'll listen!
Your mid-summer event was short term, your faith doesn't need to be.
So push back the lump in your throats my friends.
Today is a good day to be in the presence of God.
Tomorrow is a good day to burn brighter for the King of Kings.
Cling to Him. Tightly.
Cozy up to Him, and never leave.
