Tonight God revealed Himself in a new way to me. Recently I listened to a talk I found online by Brennan Manning. In the talk Brennan shared a story about a man that was about to die and told Brennan about how for the last two years he would set up a chair next to him and talk to Jesus as if He were right there next to him like you would talk to a friend. I loved this picture and the vulnerability it took for a grown man to talk to what appeared to be nothing more than an empty chair.
So, tonight after my wife and dog went to sleep and after watching pointless things on television and surfing the web I decided to put this into practice. It was kind of awkward at first. I was laying on the couch and every time I shifted positions I feared that I would kick Jesus. Once I got over the initial discomfort I could truly feel Him listening to me. I began to apologize for my broken, sinful, selfishness. As I did this I could just feel His grace. I realized that I have made my work my relationship with Him. I go out every evening and sing songs about Him and talk to youth pastors about what He has done and somehow have made this my
“personal relationship” with Him.
Just as I began to start feeling guilty for how stupid I can be I felt Him say that he knows that I am a sinner. God created us a people that need Him. God could have created us perfect people if He wanted to who did nothing but praise Him and make all the right decisions but He didn’t. His servant-nature created a people that need Him daily to survive. This is such a humbling revelation. The all-powerful, perfect God wants to serve us and love us despite our sin. This little exercise has taught me so much about the intimacy that God wants to have with me and I hope to be forever changed by it.
-chris
Connersvine
Thank you for sharing that Chris. I needed to hear that.
Intimacy with God was one of the things we were talking about in my ladies study this morning. The intimacy is what makes it a relationship. It is so awesome that our creator designed us to have that personal relationship with him. I find I need that one on one time with God everyday just to say Lord it’s not about me it’s about you. A time for his grace,love,and forgiveness to be poured into us so we can pour it out into others.
Another thing we were talking about was how to stay focused on our future with Christ. One of my favorite things is to listen to Christian music. Whenever I get in a tough situation, a song lyric always pops in my head and lifts me up. Thanks for being a part of that! I think I remember more scriptures that are in songs than ones I try to memorize.
We enjoyed meeting you and your wife in Fort Wayne at Winter Jam. It was an awesome experience. My 11 yr. old daughter who accepted Christ a few years ago told me later when we had some time together that she felt a change in her heart that night that she had not felt before. You are doing the Lord’s work, just make sure you take time for your own personal relationship with him as well.
Take Care!
I love that story of the empty chair…it’s amazing how much closer it makes God seem when you think about him sitting there next to you or in front of you while you talk to him.
Chris, Thank You! This was some BEAUTIFUL insight! Many days do I find myself in the daily grind, just existing, you know…then when I go to church, my spirit leaps, and that fire returns. Then, when I get home, the cycle starts again. To come home to Jesus in an empty chair next to me is so…inspiring. Thank you for sharing.
Doctor Joyce