Wilderness

He speaks to you in the wilderness…

The Bible says, “In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea” (Matthew 3:1).

Everything seemed to be hunky dory for a young man who had a great job, great time in a great city. His world came crashing down when his company was black listed and he lost his job overnight. The next eight months were a nightmare for this young man. He had no clue as to what was happening and it was now during this time of despair in his life, he sought the Lord with all his heart. He started regularly attending church and this dark period helped him to establish his relationship with God. There happened to be a three days revival meeting in his church and he diligently attended them all. On the third day, the speaker encouraged the congregation to give their offerings to the Lord. This gentleman wrote an amount and made a promise to the Lord to sow that particular amount every month. Suddenly the speaker paused, looked at the crowd and said, ‘if anyone of you are waiting for a miracle, double the amount for God.” This gentleman did that . Exactly within a week he received an interview and was selected for a job. This is no fairy tale but a true testimony. Friend, God prunes and refines you during times of wilderness. We are able to understand the bigger picture of God’s plans only after we come out of the wilderness. Embrace the wilderness experience in your life and never despise them, there are treasures hidden inside them.

“Busy” is the hallmark of our times. It’s become fashionable and sign of prosperity and honor to say, ‘Oh, I’m just soooooo Busy”. ‘I haven’t got a moment to myself’. Politicians and celebrities wear the badge of “I am busy”, to show that they are in the market. If they do not throw their weight around then it shows that they are jobless and marketless; however, God is great in nipping the bud of pride and He knows how to make us look at Him. The pig which always has its mouth buried into the dirt, has its four legs tied and carried upside down for slaughter. It is only now, on its way to death that the pig looks above. Likewise, there are many out there who cry, “Lord, Lord” in the eleventh hour!!!

It is wonderful to watch the placid beauty of the lake, especially when the sun is about to set. Oftentimes we don’t take time to smell the flowers, or let a scene of incredible beauty overwhelm you, so hectic is our daily grind. We have fast food, quick print shops, faster and faster computers, express oil changes, one hour photos, instant cocoa, instant coffee, microwaves, overnight delivery, express mail, instant messenger, drive-in restaurants, instant chemists, mobile phones so that we can talk to someone right now. We eat fast food and then want fast diet plans. We see our society moving at a 100 miles an hour and we think it’s good for us! People are worried and anxious because they have failed to seek God. Life without prayer is like an empty perfume bottle with fading fragrance…..People today are living empty lives without God, church and prayer. Anybody listening???

When Jesus was in the peak of His ministry, He separated Himself into the wilderness in order to speak with God. Luke 5:15,16 “However, the report went around concerning Him all the more; and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities. So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.

(Luke 5:15–16). When we fail to give Him attention, God has to bring us to a halt through such ‘wildernesses’ in our life, in order to speak His Word!