Cross the Field

How can we someone worship someone we don't know? Worship was designed to be an intimate transaction between God and His people. Many worship God because of something amazing He has done in their life or because they are "supposed" to, but just a few experiences with God or because we are "supposed to" will not sustain our desire to worship. There will always be something that needs our attention and/or affection...always.

We must seek the face of the One whom we worship, we must get to know Him, if we are to sustain that desire. When you pursue God you can't help but worship Him, because you are developing a relationship with Him- the very thing we were made for. Meeting God face to face leads to a transformation of not just our hearts, but the way we think...about Him.

God pursues us, but for a relationship to work- for real intimacy both must pursue (and no ladies this isn't an excuse to go pursuing that man you may have on your mind or have your eye on). God pursued us first, We love because He first loved us... 1 John 4:19. Its more about responding to His invitation. We must accept His invitation just as a girl must accept the marriage proposal to enter into the intimate marriage relationship (in God's design).

I imagine myself as one of two people in a field, one at either end- both of us must move toward each other to come together. While God will and does certainly come towards us, its part of our design to move towards Him. When two move towards each other, they come together much faster than if just one moves. I then can imagine the forest that lines the edge of the field, it's my wilderness. A place of shadows, no clear path, etc. (yes I know a walk through the forest can be lovely, but stick with me here.) So often we have the choice to respond to God's invitation- the path is wide open, just as the field is, because of what Jesus did on the cross, or to turn around and head back into the wilderness. The Israelites faced this dilemma. The Israelites came to the edge of their "field," their promised land and out of fear began complaining. When we complain we back away from our promise because we begin distrusting what God said and trusting what we "see." When we complain or are hanging our heads staring at our feet in saddness or self-pity, we are not seeing who God is, what He has in store for us and we certainly don't see Him standing there or hey- even walking towards us...with the most amazing relationship and plan. Remember David said in Psalm 84:10, "better is one day in your courts, Oh God, then a thousand elsewhere..."

So if your facing the line of the trees and the wide open field, God's invitation still waits...I don't know about you, but I'm going to "cross the field."