CassieIn a world that glorifies busyness, seeable productivity, and self autonomy, spending quality time with Jesus can be made to feel like a chore, an afterthought, or a back burner activity.
James 4:8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.
The internship position I’ve been working in at Creekside Church has been such an incredible blessing that I have witnessed already God’s glorification and fruit in tangible and less tangible ways.
When I first accepted this position, I had a specific prayer on my heart, a petition that I brought before God.
Lord Jesus, keep my eyes on You, my Reward, and ONLY You in this. Lord, do not let this ministry become work or duty, but by Your Spirit alone may I be filled to serve You. Lord may it only be You that works through me. I pray for miracles according to Your will, Jesus, but that nothing would be inspired by my own agenda or an exaltation of self.
Steadfast, I have experienced both the enemy’s attacks, and the Lord’s unceasing faithfulness in answering this prayer.
In the next couple weeks, I have been assigned to some group teachings to youth and young adults on the following topics:
Why should we pray? And
The seal of the Holy Spirit.
In praying on and consulting both the Word and the Holy Spirit Himself on these topics, I have witnessed some beautiful occurrences.
1. Jesus Himself simply working the Word into my heart, giving my human self nothing but peace and perseverance.
2. A direct calling,
3. Resources; friends called to share stories that highlight His work; identity in Him.
Ultimately a “thesis” that knits both sermons together:
Our identity and joyful purpose is when there is less self and more Him.
Prayer is a vehicle for communicating with His Holy Spirit.
And while these two messages may look different exegetically and hermeneutically, it is on my heart to share here.
That even– especially– when the world tells you to do everything but it, drop everything and pray. Invite the Holy Spirit to take control. Ask that your identity be in Him entirely.
I had the blessing of having coffee with a new friend this morning, who felt called by Jesus to share the testimony of His work in his life at Creekside’s youth group. He shared that story with me this morning with no fluffing or personal exaltation, but eager to give all the glory for the healing he’d encountered to Jesus Christ. For revealing that the identity he’d been placing in other things was never enough because it wasn’t Jesus.
1 John 3:16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.
