Just Visiting
Most parents with school-aged children have at some point visited their children’s school and classroom. Depending upon the school, visitors are often required to wear a nametag identifying VISITOR, unless the parent is a frequent volunteer and granted more leniency. Regardless, the tag notifies teachers and children alike that the individual’s presence is temporary, unlike those employed or attending who have vested interests.
Sometimes I think we treat being in Jesus’ presence as temporary. We run in when we need something and typically run out to accomplish our work. Although we might experience the Lord’s presence in worship at church on Sunday, we are often not as connected throughout the week. Wednesday night services offer a needed mid-week connection, but the abiding 24/7 position remains elusive and seemingly beyond reach.
The Lord made a point of my visiting status one time when I was traveling and representing an organization that placed a bible curriculum in public schools. Aware of my abject need for His wisdom and anointing, I attempted a deep dive into His presence through prayer and meditation. The Lord admonished me with an amusing analogy of gulping air at the end of a 25-meter pool in an attempt to swim the entire distance underwater. Instead of working so hard to prepare, He questioned why I didn’t choose to live in that place where the anointing is always present. I had forgotten that Jesus clearly laid it out in John 15:5. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.”
That was why I was gulping spiritual air — my issue was “remaining.” The reason was very convicting. As if on autopilot, I did what I knew I was capable and proficient at doing, not seeing the need to involve God. Many activities fell into that category like household chores, shopping, planning and organizing, interacting with family and friends, etc. However, doing “Kingdom” work was another matter. It did not register with me that when Jesus said “apart from Me you can do nothing,” He actually meant NOTHING.
Samuel, a powerful man of God and Judge of Israel, was accustomed to being God’s representative and voice to the Israelites. He made a yearly circuit of the country, judging and settling disputes. Because he operated so powerfully in the Spirit of God, his presence was often fearful to people. Samuel did not deviate from God’s instructions in anything except the rearing of his sons. In addition to having no healthy parental modeling, Samuel did not seek God’s wisdom to be a father. As adults, Samuel’s sons did not follow God’s ways and the Israelites rejected them as Samuel’s successors.
Psalm 91:9 talks about the Lord being our dwelling place: not a place to visit, but a place to live. The first step in making this a reality is recognizing that not only does God desire to walk with us in all the details of our lives, but that partnering with the God of all Creation is the wisest life decision we could ever make. When we exclude Him, it is usually because we wish to remain in control, we minimize His love, concern, and power, and/or we don’t trust Him to act in our best interest. That reveals much more about us than about God. So, what will it take to convince us to not only give God preeminence in our lives, but to live IN Him? Can we start by agreeing with King David in Psalm 37:5 NKJV? “Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.” This is a school of the Spirit where we are welcomed as fulltime, residential students. And, by the way, we never graduate… but that’s actually a good thing!