Because of His infinite love and mercy, the Lord will not allow His precious sheep to stray for long. It has been said that a shepherd, after finding one of his straying sheep, will break its' legs with compassion and carry it on his neck while it is healing. The little lamb becomes totally dependent upon the shepherd and, as he is healing, begins to intimately learn everything about his shepherd - the taste of his sweat, the smell of his skin, the sound of his voice, the beat of his heart!
"For this is what the Sovereign LORD says:
'I myself will search for my sheep and look after them...
I will search for the lost and bring back the strays.
I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak...' "
(Jeremiah 34:11,16a)
It is in brokenness that we are drawn near to the Lord; it is in our weakness that we find our strength in Him (reference 2 Corinthians 12:9a, 10b). It is here that we will find our true heartbeat (His Heartbeat!) - the rhythm we are meant to walk to - the pulse that will keep us going (in the right direction!).
Is it necessary for our Lord to take such drastic measures to discipline His children, as a shepherd who wears his sheep like a necklace, to develop love and faithfulness (reference Proverbs 3:3)? The Scriptures tell us that if we are disobedient we can expect to be disciplined (reference Psalm 94:12; Hebrews 12:11). "Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent..." (Revelation 3:19). We are also told that:
"But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise:
God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.
He chose the lowly thing of the this world and the despised things -
and the things that are not - to nullify the things that are,
so that no one may boast before Him."
(1 Corinthians 1:27-29)
What if the Lord's choice for discipline is not what we expected? What if, instead of waiting for His hand of judgment to fall, He intends to extend His hand of mercy to those who are willing to listen? What if His discipline is not to punish, but to teach, to train, and to correct? Is this not what the Word of God tells us He will do:
"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching,
rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."
(2 Timothy 3:16-17)
If it is the Word of God that helps us to develop self-control and brings about in us the obedience the Lord desires of His children, then it would make sense that the Word of God would be His chosen instrument to discipline His wayward children.
"For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected
if it is received with thanksgiving,
because it is consecrated by the Word of God and prayer."
(1 Timothy 4:4-5)
The Word of God and prayer go hand and hand. Prayer opens the door to the throne room and provides the opportunity to make our requests known to the Lord. Once there, it is through the knowledge of the Word of God, that we make requests in accordance to the will of God (reference 1 John 5:14-15). By spending time in the Word of God we develop an understanding of the mind of God, grow in the knowledge of God, and learn to discern the voice of God.
This is what the Lord is desiring of His children - that we would have ears to hear. It is time to stop talking and start listening. We need more than ever to be still, to get quiet, to listen His voice, and to feel His heart beating. Instead of submitting requests to fulfill our desires, we need to submit to the will of God and inquire of Him what He desires.
"These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.
Their worship of me is made up onlyof rules taught by men.
Therefore once more I will astound these people
with wonder upon wonder;
the wisdom of the wise will perish,
the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish."
(Isaiah 29:13-14)
Listening is what fasting is all about. Fasting is slowing down and submitting to the will of God. It is learning to be still as He develops in us a deep dependence upon Him. It is here, in prayer, meditating on the Word of God, that we learn to hear more clearly. The more time we spend with the Lord, the more in tune our ears become to the will of God.
This is why Jesus told John's disciples that, "The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast" (Matthew 9:15b). It would be when the Lord was gone that they would need to be dependent upon Him more fully. Apart from Christ we can do nothing; we must rely on Him (reference John 15:5). When we fast (in the traditional sense of giving up food) we find ourselves becoming more disciplined to depend on the Lord more fully. Each day we grow in the "fullness of God" as we develop a "hunger and thirst for righteousness" (reference Matthew 5:6; Ephesians 3:19).
Our Lord is returning soon - we need to be prepared - dressed, ready, and waiting for our Lord. When Jesus came the first time, the world was looking for a savior, one that would set the nation free from political bondage (reference John 12:13). Jesus came to set the world free - spiritually, from the bondage of sin and death. Are we today looking at the political scene, as they were 2000 years ago, and petitioning God for a miracle instead of submitting to the person of Christ? (reference Matthew 12:39-45). Will we miss the One who stands at the door, in front of us, because we have been blinded by the distractions of the world?
Our nation is in desperate need of healing, on a spiritual level. It will only come when the heart of God's children begins to match the heartbeat of God. When our priority becomes prayer and our passion becomes His Word we will find our pulse.
The door before us gives us access to enter into His presence - to sit at His feet - to dine at His table - to listen to His heartbeat. It beats with compassion for a lost and dying world in need of a Savior.
"But for you who revere my name,
the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings.
And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall."
(Malachi 4:2)
It may seem foolish, with all that is going on in the world, that we are being called to simply be still; to sit with God and be quiet. We must remember that His ways are not our ways - they are higher (reference Isaiah 55:8-9). His plans are perfect, His way is right, and He will prevail (reference Proverbs 19:21). Will we open the door and submit to His Divine discipline to listen to the heart of God?
"Be still and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth."
(Psalm 47:10)
Commit today to return to Him with all your heart. If you are a fully devoted follower, and love the Lord with all your heart, this presents a wonderful opportunity to spend intimate time with your Lord and encourage others in their walk, as well. Open the door at
www.trumpetandtorch.org Click on the
Proclaim Liberty button and register to spend 40 intimate days sitting at the feet of the Lord, in prayer, feasting upon His Word. Extraordinary things can happen in 40 days! Don't miss this vital opportunity?
"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."
(Luke 19:10)
"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him - but God has revealed it to us by His Spirit." (1 Corinthians 2:9-10).
Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love (Ephesians 6:24),
Traci Alexander
and the Servants of Trumpet and Torch Ministries
