It’s time to return
2 weeks ago I wrote down some things I felt like God was speaking to my heart. My family was at our weekly prayer night on a Wednesday. It was just before our state started self isolation, so our small groups were still meeting and we hadn’t yet moved church to online.
I love these prayer nights.
We spend about a half hour just praying on our own…but all of us in one room. The worship music plays loud enough to cover the sound of the voices. Sometimes I worship and sometimes I pray, I often take out my Bible and notebook to write things down.
A couple of days ago, while praying with Transformation Church during their midday prayer, I remembered what I had written that night. And the last couple of days I have felt like I need to share it with you.
While praying that night I turned to the second chapter of Joel. I have always loved this book. Here’s what I wrote:
“There is a returning on the horizon.
Not from the world, but rather the church. We have gotten so far from His presence. And it happened so slowly that we didn’t even know. But He is calling, drawing us. As we repent, as we see the true condition of our heart, tear it open, and ask for Him to heal it, He will relent and return to us His presence in a deeper way than we’ve ever known. It will be like a wave…crashing into us.”
Fast forward two weeks and here we are.
Isolated from the church building and from gathering together. Yet in a better position than ever to do what these verses say we should.
Even now this is the Lord’s declaration, turn to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning. Tear your heart and not just your clothes, and return to the Lord your God. For He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, rich in faithful love, and He relents from sending disaster. Who knows? He may turn and relent and leave a blessing behind Him, so you can offer grain and wine to the Lord your God.
Blow the horn in Zion. Announce a sacred fast, proclaim an assembly. Gather the people; sanctify the congregation; assemble the aged; gather the children, even those nursing at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his bedroom, and the bride her honeymoon chamber. Let the priests, the Lord’s ministers weep between the portico and the altar.
Joel 2:12-17
It’s time.
It’s time to repent for how far away we have been, to repent for the condition of our heart. It’s time to fast and seek His face. What else are we doing right now? We should come together (spiritually, not physically) as the Church and seek our God.
He will respond! Look at the response we see in this chapter!
Look, I am about to send you grain, new wine, and oil. You will be satiated with them…
Joel 2:18
And in verse 24 again it speaks of grain, new wine and oil.
If we return to Him, He will turn again toward us. And we will be blessed with financial blessing – enough to give away, His joy – enough to share, and the anointing of the Holy Spirit.
But we must return to Him…and we must help others do the same. This is our time. Right now. In the middle of the panic and the fear all around us, we need to point people to Him. Like emergency workers during an evacuation – direct the people to the place of sustenance and life.
And then what?
Verse 28 gives us an idea of what happens when we run headlong into Him.
After this I will pour out My Spirit on all humanity; then your sons and your daughters will prophecy, your old men will have dreams and your young men will see visions.
Joel 2:28
That’s a world I want to live in. I was want to see His Spirit poured out on all humanity!
Starting tomorrow I will be fasting for a week, and I would like to invite you to join me. Each morning I will be praying, repenting, seeking God. Each midday I will be participating in midday prayer with Transformation Church online and worshiping throughout the day in my home. Will you “gather” with me? Will you join me in seeking His presence in a deeper way?