Wilderness

I’m not sure that I’ve ever been in a real wilderness. I imagine it to be hard to navigate. I imagine it to be heavily wooded and sand for miles – all at the same time.  The wilderness is untamed, desolate, and mostly uninhabited. I’ve heard of people getting lost in the wilderness of the Smoky Mountains.

I do think there is great value in some alone time with God. I have a noisy life and it’s hard to hear the whisper of God.  One of the reasons I enjoy my early mornings is the quietness and the opportunity to hear God speak. Jesus came to John to be baptized and then went (on purpose) into the wilderness. Check this out…

¹² The Spirit then compelled Jesus to go into the wilderness, ¹³ where he was tempted by Satan for forty days. He was out among the wild animals, and angels took care of him. (Mark 1:12-13 NLT)

As I was reading this, I was reminded that Moses went to the desert (aka wilderness) for forty years.  I think that the Lord can teach me things in the wilderness that He can’t teach me any other way. My attention is heightened in the wilderness. My hearing is better in the wilderness.

Jesus’ time in the wilderness was filled with temptation and preparation. This was final preparation prior to Him beginning His ministry. I think that people who spend a lot of time speaking and leading in public really need some wilderness time to prepare.

My wilderness is sometimes unwelcomed because of timing. God’s timing is always perfect. I don’t always understand the wilderness experience. I do know that the Lord NEVER leaves me alone in the wilderness. He restores me in the wilderness. He teaches me in the wilderness. I need to be prepared for the wilderness.

Pressing On!

Dwayne