Beyond the Threshold

When our deepest desire is not the things of God, or a favor from God, but God himself, we cross a threshold. Less self-focus, more God-focus. Less about me, more about him. ~ Max Lucado 

I heard it first at a prayer meeting this past year.

A group of students gathered at a staff house on a Sunday evening and a passionate prayer warrior leading with words of truth. And I don't remember where the words she said came from, or what book she said that she'd been reading, but I remember clearly the words that have stuck with me.

What if we prayed focused more on the Blesser rather than the blessings?

And, by extension: What if we lived focused on the Giver rather than the gifts.

Reading these two sentences in the second chapter of It's Not About Me (by Max Lucado), brought back that night and how I was challenged to come simply to sit in His presence.

Yes, I can read the Bible, but am I coming with a heart that seeks to know Him more? Not to know more about Him, but to know Him?

Am I praying to receive things? Or to fulfill the real reason for prayer - that it's more about aligning my heart with God than producing any "change" in His will (Jorin Green)?

Why do I come?

Why?

Is it guilt? Is it duty? Is it for a good feeling? Is it for show? Is it.... what?

Is it because of Him? Simply to sit in His presence and to know Him? To be with Him?

Because He is more than enough.

This life? This crazy, convoluted, up-and-down roller-coaster ride? It's all about revealing Him, His character in the creases of the worn everyday. How much more clearly do we see Him than by being His creation and living in the world that He has made?

He is worthy.

Do I come to get a glimpse of His power? Do I cry out as Moses did, requesting what seemed to be the impossible? To see the glory of God?

Do I glory in Him as my King? To bask in all that He is? To seek out a new facet of Him every day?

Oh, the desire to even desire Him is far from me many days. I cry out for even that desire, and yet when it comes, I must choose it. It's a crazy balance, but what I do know...

Nothing compares with seeing His face.

And I could go to church every day of the week, I could read my Bible from cover to cover time after time, I could fast two days a week, I could pray all day, I could be involved in everything... but if it's not because I desire to see Him, to know Him, to be His?

It's all worthless.

Oh, that I might cross the threshold daily.