Dessert in the Desert

What do you think of when one says the word, "desert?" A sandy, arid environment? A place devoid of life or little of it? Sand dunes a-plenty? How about dessert?

What would you do if someone told you, "Hey, I'm taking away your regular food supply for awhile, but I'm gonna give you something better in return?"

How about Chai in the desert? Or dessert for that matter?

This past weekend, God spoke to me about where I'm at in my life right now: the desert. And he wants to give me dessert while I'm here. He's told me recently that a season of abundance is coming, of greater fulfillment and amazing things happening to and through me. And it's coming soon. But it hasn't yet....No, not yet, not fully. And for now, I'm in the desert. And I'm excited about this. Why?

For one thing, it's good to know where you are so that you can navigate the terrain appropriately. Now that I know that I'm in a desert period, I can know better how I am to survive and what God wants me to do or learn in this place. So it's good just to know that.

Secondly, I'm excited because of what the desert means. It means that God is inviting me to a place of deeper intimacy with him, of greater reliance upon him and his sustenance. When Jesus was in the desert and the devil tempted him to turn a stone into bread to satisfy his hunger, Jesus' response was, "It is written, 'Man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.' " I have to believe that Jesus was getting some really yummy words from God out there in the desert, or else taking what God had already spoken to him and chewing on it, savoring it. God has likewise been inviting me to eat more of his words, to gain more from him directly, more affirmation, more support, more love, more connection. I'm sick of hearing other people sing so passionately to Jesus or the Father or Spirit and me feeling jealous that I'm not as passionate as they are. I want to experience this more for myself. And I will. I'm starting to more and more, today.

Not only does this desert instigate greater intimacy with my Creator; He's also going to use it to prepare me to receive what he has when I come out of the desert. I'm talking powerhouse time, David running on all four cylinders on Holy Spirit gasoline, full-throttle kind of stuff. See, when Jesus got out of the desert, the Biblical narrative tells us that he went into high gear-mode, carrying out his full-on ministry. Same thing for King David before he became king. He spent a significant time in the desert being chased by King Saul before receiving the kingship that had long before been promised to him. But sometime after the desert, he got his kingdom. Or take the Israelites back in Moses' day. What did they do after escaping Egypt? They were in the DESERT! And what happened after the desert? Promised Land! Now, it took them 40 years, and many of the original Israelites didn't actually make it to the Promised Land 'cause they were too busy doubting God. So he let them die off and brought in the ones who would trust him. Why? And why all this time in the desert?

I believe God was creating a people for himself, and not just for his own sake but for their own sake, such that when they got into the Promised Land they would be able to inherit, conquer, and keep that which he wanted to give them. What good is a gift that you're going to squander? What good is new wine if the wineskin it goes into is going to burst and spill the goods all over the place? Or as Jesus asked, what good is it for a man to gain the whole world yet forfeit his soul?

When we are in a desert period, God has the opportunity to show us more of his goodness such that we rely on him and his character more than anything else in our lives, and when more of the goods come on the other side, we can own it without it owning us, 'cause we've learned how to rely on him instead of the stuff. I don't want crazy power if it's going to destroy me when I get it. I don't want a girlfriend and money and success if these things are going to make me full of myself and empty out God when I get them. But ah, if I can keep my footing on him, on the foundation of who God is and who he says I am without relying on these other things for my identity, then, THEN, maybe I can have these things and they be good. Then maybe I can contribute to a wholesome relationship, contribute to success, contribute to whatever else comes my way, 'cause I'm already getting the core of what I need from the God I got to know better in the desert. I get to have my Chai now, so when other yummy things come along, I won't mistake them for Chai and can still enjoy them.

Man does not live on bread alone, but on every ounce of Chai that flows from the mouth of God. Lord, let me drink it in. I want to drink you in, and others can call me "full of it," in the best of ways. Yes, I will be full of you.

Let me say one more thing, and I'm taking from something that Bill Johnson said in a sermon or two once. The desert period in a person's life isn't meant to be an experience of simply scraping by. Rather, it's an opportunity to see the God of heaven show up and do some crazy things. Look at the Israelites again. They had a cloud guiding them and giving them shade by day, and a pillar of fire to warm and guide them by night! Crazy! And their sandals or shoes or whatever they were wearing on their feet didn't wear out! And they got this crazy bread from heaven called "Manna," and God gave 'em water gushing out of this rock, and all kinds of crazy stuff! I'm ready for the crazies! And I've already experienced a lot of that already! Dessert, dessert, dessert. Oh, and how 'bout some more...dessert?!? Seriously, that's what's been happening, mainly "trifling" things (or should I say "truffling?") that I don't necessarily "need" but things which God knows will encourage my heart. And he's dealing with the needs too, just in ways that I may not expect or prefer...kind of like the manna.

So I say bring it on. More Jesus, more Father, more Spirit, more Chai. And when I come out of this, it'll be Chai-time for more.