I just got an email from a sister in Taipei, Taiwan telling me that she has been emotionally down for days. Well, I thought she just came back from a retreat. She told me just a couple weeks ago that she had a very special moment there with God and she was on revival.
This reminds me of my prayer partner. She went to Northern California to attend a prayer conference last weekend and came back excited and refreshed (in her own word). But when we met this past Monday(one day after the trip) afternoon for prayer, her excitement was gone because she had a very unpleasant conversation with her mother-in-law that morning.
Frankly speaking, this is no surprise to me. I WAS THERE! I was like everybody going from conference to conference. It seems God manifests Himself more at the conference or retreat than to us when we are alone, isn't it?
Well, we are not alone. When Peter, John and James were on the mountain top, they saw the transfiguration and glory of the Lord. What a marvelous experience they had. But, when they came down to the valley, like the rest of the disciples, they were unable to cast out the demon from that little poor boy. In other words, the mountain top experience did not give them strength to deal with the reality. It requires something more, such as being obedient in order to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit , the anointing of the Holy Spirit and other discipline.
I became really ill in 1999, and was confined in bed for more than three years. I am still diagnosed by doctors as “severely handicapped” even thought most people can not tell from my appearance. Because my illness, I am forced to be alone most of the time and not be able to go anywhere as I wish to, including going to the church services.
But, I have grown closer and closer to the Lord since then. The Lord Jesus Christ becomes my first love again (which actually was replaced by my selfish ambitions such as becoming a great Christian, pastor,missionary or doing great things for God,etc ). My bed has become my worship center and my heart is the alter where I meet the Lord all the time. I don't have to go to anyone or places to meet God, He is with me and within me. He talks to me and I talk to Him. The intimacy is the word for our relationship.
I still go to the conference when the Lord told me to, but very rare. I do not rely on going to those meetings to get refreshments or revelations. I am on the mountain top with the Lord most of the time and is now in the process of being trained to be tough and strong when coming down to the valley to face the daily reality.
Like air and water is available everywhere and so is the presence of the Lord. Our heart is like a garden. We need to keep the gate open every moment, allow the Master coming and talking to us like He used to with Adam and Eve. Only our sin and Satan will keep the gate shut and therefore, stop the flowing of the river of life from God.
Look up, He is there watching over us! Look down, He is right here inside us! Look around, He is everywhere with us (Psalm 139)!!! How blessed we are to have such a wonderful Lord, the most loving God !!!
