Disturb Us, Lord

Disturb Us, Lord

"The fundamental fact of existence is that of trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It's our handle on what we can't see. The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd." Hebrews 11:1-2 (The Message)

Let's be honest, brothers -- we all have our comfort zones. We like our neat little boxes and have our ideas of what life should be like. We don't really like change -- and the older we get, the harder it is to adapt to changes in life. We like the comfortable, the familiar, and our "don't-rock-the-boat" world.

But I have discovered something interesting in Scripture and in my experience. God doesn't allow us to remain in our comfort zones. Well let me rephrase that -- if a man wants to fully experience God, He will take us out of our comfort zone so that we will experience Him in ways we could never have imagined.

Think about it. Every man (or woman) in Scripture that God used, was pulled from their comfort zone in order for them to experience God's power and glory: Abraham, Moses, Joseph, Joshua, David, Nehemiah, Paul, Peter.

We get into the "play it safe" mode in life. I believe that God wants to step out of our comfort zone and take a risk -- do we really believe He wants to do great things in and through us? He has done it before: George Mueller. Amy Carmichael. Jim Elliot. Billy Graham. D.L. Moody. William Raws.

But just maybe He wants to add our names to that list. Sir Francis Drake wrote these words:

Disturb us, Lord, when we are too well pleased with ourselves, when our dreams have come true because we have dreamed too little, when we arrive safely because we have sailed too close to the shore.

Disturb us, Lord, when with the abundance of things we possess, we have lost our thirst for the waters of life; having fallen in love with life, we have ceased to dream of eternity; and in our efforts to build a new earth, we have allowed our visions of the new Heaven to dim.

Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly, to venture on wider seas where storms will show you mastery; where losing sight of land, we shall find the stars. We ask you to push back the horizons of our hopes; and to push into the future in strength, courage, hope, and love.

That's a bold prayer. Am I willing to pray that prayer? How about you? Are we willing to let God disturb us and take us out of our comfort zone so that He can demonstrate to us His power? Well, be careful what you pray for -- He will take you and me at our word! -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 23; 2 Samuel 14-15; Luke 17:20-37

Dig This Quote: Thy love to me, O God, not mine, O Lord, to Thee, can rid me of this dark unrest, and set my spirit free. Horatius Bonar

Determined Digging: Determined Digging: Level 1 -- Psalm 139:23-24; Level 2 -- Psalm 51:14-19