SMACKED!

Have you ever had an experience, a moment, that you just knew you were in the crosshairs of God? I've had two. Recently. "What the crap?", I say. "Isn't this supposed to be for those men of God? Those ordained men who pray and fast and seek God 24/7 ?"



Apparently not. Last night as I was turning in, I had a feeling that I needed to pray a little harder. So I did. I simply told God that I wanted to be a little nearer to Him. Not much, just a small portion more. He obliged. Within seconds I was face down and "the word of the Lord came to Chuck." Hardcore.



In the following moments I was torn to shreds, spiritually, by the overwhelming conviction that Jesus bled and died, suffered a horrific death for.....me. No kidding, right? I mean, this was nothing new to me. I was saved at seven years of age, and , even through my wandering years, I professed Him. I know the crucifixion forward and back. So why did God choose to remind me of His gift? Don't know. Doesn't really matter.



What matters is that God "...created in me a clean heart and renewed a steadfast spirit within me. He restored to me the joy of His salvation" (Psalm 51:10, 12). That's what it feels like to me, anyway.



Next, I was pelted with burdens. Prayer burdens for all manner of things. Some I had been praying fervently for months. This time I was praying them differently. Other things were new. My church, for instance, is going through a tough time. I found myself crying out to God to break hearts in my church the way he had, or has, broken mine. And the big deal about all of this isn't me, (shucks). It is that when I was done, He was done, and I was finally drifting off to sleep, I had the impression that God was saying, " I'm coming to Stock Creek. Got some things I want to do."



Holy Father, thank You for Jesus and His willingness to be the perfect sacrifice, the final sacrifice. Thank You for looking down on me in Your infinite love and blessing me with a new and fresh perspective on why and how I am yours. I praise You for all things and right now especially for knowing that You are on the way, in Your time. Keep me close and hear the burdens and desires of my heart. In Jesus' name.