Here I am in deep waters, far away from any sign of land. Waves surge up and down, settling me briefly into watery valleys that hinder my vision. I hope to see some glimpse of land, some reference point that would lead me up and away from the deep waters into the shallows of what is familiar and comfortable. Yet, each time I rise up, the view is the same – more waves and a vast expanse of sky that causes me to feel a spiritual vertigo. If I look too long without anything to focus on, I feel a bit dizzy in this new place.
How did I get here? Well, I cried out a simple prayer, “More Lord.” When that prayer reached a crescendo, rising into the ears of God, He lifted me up and brought me out into the deep to call me unto Himself.
Despite my disdain for religion and my dislike for the mundane, at least the shallow waters lent themselves to some sort of fellowship and preaching. Out here there’s nothing. No distractions. It’s just the sound of the waves as the wind swirls around me.
To stay afloat, I can tread water but that gets tiring over time. How long will that keep me afloat anyway?
Nothing to lean on. Nowhere to go. It’s just me and the wind and the waves. What purpose does this serve? How does this fit into God’s mighty plan for my life?
I knew it would come to this. After all, when I cried out “More Lord” what did I expect? To be drawn up in the midst of churchianity or to be drawn out into the deep?
For years, a discontent grew within my whole being whenever I entertained the thought of church – business as usual, mundane boring programs, performance driven worship teams or leadership that micromanaged everything down to the last minute. This discontent almost killed me. It was at this point that God whispered into my being. “If you want to go deeper, you have to be drawn into the deep waters.”
When it first happens, loneliness sets in along with a penchant to stay alive by any means possible. You know what I’m talking about if you are following along with this by the Spirit. Thinking that this won’t last too long or that God will let me go back to the safety of the shoreline. You get that right?
But as the waves come and go, I realize that it’s impossible to have both – sanctimonious religion and God ordained, Spirit led, Jesus loving relationship. It’s impossible for desire and passion to grow in environments self-serving to man’s agenda without any regard to precious Holy Spirit.
When drawn into the deep by the hand of God, there is only one thing to do. Release, let go and allow Him to pull you down into His depths. There is no returning to normalcy after that. When I release myself to the hand of God and He pulls me under, I have only one recourse of action left in my life.
Release everything to Him. Trust Him.
What’s the alternative? Catching a wave back into shore, splashing around in the shallows with those who want nothing more from God than the latest conference or next trendy worship CD. There are no options left for me.
I release myself into the depths of my Lord.
Over time, I discover a new paradigm takes over. What was focused years ago on external Christianity in the realm of performance, agenda and works is now focused on being in union with Christ, so that my life flows in Christ………..as He is, so am I in the world. This reality infuses my life with His life. It is Christ in me. Christ in me.
It is in the depths, the deep waters, that I find truth, the person of Christ in the depths of His love, His grace and His mercy flowing into my life.
God calls prophets into the deep waters for seasons of increased revelation, growth and maturity. It is a pulling aside, going deeper, intimate times with God apart from the routine and ritual that religious Christianity brings.
Prophets in deep waters love God and love His people. The deep is necessary to strengthen the message that will resonate through every fiber of our being. It is a call to love God wholeheartedly with our whole mind, body and soul, forsaking anything the world offers that tries to take the place of God. Our message is fine-tuned here, uncompromised, not conforming to standard or ritual.
What is the message you may ask? Is it some mysterious revelation that sets us apart? Is it some new teaching that will draw others to us, eyes wide open, gazing in admiration at us and our anointing?
It’s quite simple. It is the centrality of Christ; Jesus being all in all with every prophetic utterance issuing forth a revelation of the preeminence and glory, in the person of Christ.
In the deep, He forms the hearts before He fashions the words coming from our lives. Each word has its beginning and ending in the person of Jesus Christ. Our lives are changed. He is our all in all.
The deep brings a reality that forms in us and lives through us in Christ. We may be called back into the shallows and back onto land but the revelation imparted here will be the foundation of our lives. Radical prophets submitted to God, loving people and challenging the very nature of the church, as we know it.
Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become His counselor? Or who has first given to Him and it shall be repaid to him? For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen. Romans 11:33-36
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. Colossians 1:15-18
Living with Passion and Purpose in Christ,
Debra
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