Pitch Your Tent and Go Camping With God

tent

I’m not much for camping out.  I prefer my lumpy mattress to the hard ground.  I feel much more at east in my climate controlled bedroom than a nylon tent.  My idea of “roughing it” is a hotel with no wireless internet connection.

That being said, tents played an important role in Old Testament times.  One of my favorite cases in found in Exodus 33:7-11.  As Moses led the Hebrews through the Wilderness, they set up camp for a short time at various locations.  When they would set up camp, Moses would set up a tent far off from the camp that they called the “tent of meeting.”

Anyone who wanted to pray could get alone and meet with God.  The Bible tells them that when Moses went into the tent, the cloud representing God’s presence would engulf the tent.  When the people saw the presence of God come upon Moses and the tent, they would “rise up and worship, each at his tent door.”

Pitching Your Own Tent

I think it’s past time for you and me to have something like a tent of meeting in our lives.  We need a place to get alone with God and let Him speak to us.  

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Sharpening My Blades

sharpening bladeA couple of weeks ago, on rare day of heavy rainfall in South Georgia, I was having a conversation with the gentleman who landscapes our church grounds. I asked him if he hated to see this rainy day since it meant he couldn’t get out and work. He told me that while he doesn’t want too many down days, one every now and then is beneficial. “Since it’s raining today, I’ll spend the day sharpening my blades.”

While most of us would view a down day as an obstacle, he saw it as an opportunity to prepare for the coming busy days. Intentional preparation. When he is faced with his task of mowing, he doesn’t have time to maintain and prepare his equipment…and he keeps quite the hectic schedule. Rather than wasting a day when he couldn’t mow, he spent time preparing for the next day he would mow.

Although sometimes I feel like there is not time that I am not “mowing” spiritually, I have to make the time to step aside and “sharpen my blade.” I need a regular dose of God’s Word to align my life with Him and His plan. I need the down time of prayer to focus my heart and mind on Him. I cannot sustain the regular pace of constantly spending myself without giving God the chance to replenish my soul. Several times in Jesus’ ministry, He withdrew to be alone with the Father. He often called His disciples away from the crowd to be alone with them so He could nurture them as well.

Today, I resolve to be more intentional about keeping my blade sharp. I will set aside more time in God’s Word and prayer. I will allow Him through His Word to prepare me for what He has in store.

What about you? When and how will you sharpen your blade?

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. – 2 Timothy 3:16-17