Clay in the Hands

This week, I have the privilege of being at the Baptist state convention meeting.  The meeting is being held in McAllen, Texas.  The last time I was in this part of the world was on a mission trip and I had forgotten just how great it is to be in this part of Texas.

Today, I sat in a workshop being taught by Jim Dennison.  Jim has been a pastor for years and now serves as the Theologian in Residence for the state convention.  His talk was on the power of the Holy Spirit and the spiritual awakening that is going on in the world today.  Unfortunately, this work is not happening to any large degree in North America.  It is all going on south of the equator in places like Africa, Brazil and the rest of South America.

He talked for  quite some time about the four Great Awakenings that have happened over the course of the last 200 years.  One thing I found profoundly interesting is that each great spiritual awakening occurred in the midst of a sense of desperation.

As I have continued to process that thought, I have begun to personalize and internalize it.

I have had to ask myself this question: “How desperate am I for God to move in my life?”

My fear is that I have grown so accustomed to doing things on my own accord and out of my own giftedness, that I have moved away from a dependence on God.

A second question I have been asking myself is this: “What is it in my life that I am attempting to do that I will surely fail if God does not show up?”

I have become convinced that until we are desperate for God to show up – until we are desperate for God to take over – we will not experience a spiritual awakening.

The question for you today is this:  How desperate are you for Jesus to show up and make a difference?

Think about it today.