Photo taken by my daughter, and I added the quote.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the word was with God and the Word was God…”

John 1:1

This past week, I’ve been in a real spiritual battle.  I’ve been battling both myself–and the enemy of my soul.  It started when I received an unsolicited critique of this blog.  I battled this “critique” because of whom it came from, what was said, and even more so, what I had already been feeling from the Holy Spirit.  Because of who spoke the advice, I was leery.  This person is someone I used to trust, but have recently been doubting their trustworthiness. So, I began to speculate on what this person thought the advice meant, why they believed I needed to hear it, and most of all why they are the way they are… My strong-will made it difficult to swallow too, because, even though I’d been getting something similar from the Holy Spirit, I didn’t welcome this advice from this source.  Like I said, it was a battle.  So, before I sat down to write, I wanted to be sure that my heart and thus my words were centered on Christ.  God knows what He’s doing.  He knows what I need to hear.  He knows that I must be empty before I can be His mouthpiece.

Prior to receiving this advice, I’d been feeling frustrated with my blog.  I was frustrated because I feel like I’m not telling my readers anything new.  I know what I’ve written so far has been what God has requested of me.  I have felt His presence when I write, but I still feel that I’m not really feeding you.  God’s been asking me to go deeper. But I questioned:  “How do I go deeper while I still keep it simple and give the Spirit’s leading in bite-sized pieces?”  So, like I do when I’m feeling lost, I decided to start a new book of the Bible…but I didn’t know where to look, so I typed into Google a simple phrase: “Scripture about going deep.”  The very first link blew my mind.  God is so good to me.  It was a link to the blog “geezeronthequad” by Dave Swartz (http://geezeronthequad.com/2012/06/07/john-11-14-going-deep-read-the-scripture-at-least-twice/).  In an entry on June 7^th, 2012, he wrote about the book of John, and God used this blog to speak to my heart. What I found was that John found himself in a similar situation.  He was writing his “gospel” several decades after Matthew, Mark, and Luke’s.  The story of the Messiah was documented.  The church was founded and growing.  And then, John decides (some believe because he was asked to answer some questions) to write his account.  I was thinking, “Wow…this is just as how I’m feeling.”  He was telling a story that people already knew.  There was nothing “new” to what he wrote.  So, I began to delve with new eyes into the gospel of John.

Several things stood out to me.  First, I thought about the most famous verse in the whole Bible-John 3:16.  It hit me that this guy who was writing “after the fact” made a huge impact.  So, God can still speak through me if I’m His willing vessel.  Second, being an English teacher at heart, the poetry of this gospel moved me as well.  How many times have I read this book and I missed it?  John was a beautiful writer.  He had skills.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God.”  Another famous verse—one that I’ve always loved.  It has spoken to me many times over the years.  It tells me that the Word of God is indwelt by Jesus (makes you feel bad about any dust on your Bible doesn’t it) that it has always been, and that it has power.  The Word is important.  Study of the Word is important.   I’m not always perfect about getting my time in with the Word every day.  It’s usually a couple times a week if I’m truly honest.  But, this book is powerful.  It changes people.  How many times has it changed me?

So, I thought about what I’ve wanted God to do with my blog.  I’ve wanted Him to help keep me alert, and thus keep you alert.  He is constantly on my mind, “So are you to my thoughts as food to life…” as Shakespeare put it.  How do I put my love affair with Christ into words?  How do I become that willing vessel that will lead others to Him?  I dug deeper into the first chapter to see if there was an answer there.

The next thing John spoke about was John the Baptist and what his assignment had been.  He was to proclaim Christ’s return.

Wow.

“So am I to be proclaiming Your return Lord?”  I asked.

The Spirit spoke that the things He’s been laying on my heart recently do just that.: My frustration with Christians and how they attack the unsaved; my frustration with conservatives in politics and how you can’t tell they’re even Christians when you look at how they treat people; How He’s opening my eyes to what’s going on behind the scenes; How He’s been pushing me to reach out to the lost, and to love the unlovable.  He’s begging me to love others and to be a light for Him.  Wow.

You know what was next in John?

“This man [John the Baptist] came as witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe.  He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.  That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.”  John the Baptist, John the apostle, are witnesses.  They were called to be a light, much like I feel called to be a light house.  (https://stayingalertblog.wordpress.com/2013/10/02/im-trying-to-be-a-lighthouse/)

John wrote five books of the Bible in all, including Revelation.  I’ve been having dreams of the second coming recently.  I feel an urgency to reach those who don’t know Him that I’ve never really felt before.  I feel drawn deeper in my relationship with Christ.  Will you go on this journey with me?  Will you go deep?  I hope you will—I could really use the company.  The Word is calling.  Let’s answer Him.

Staying Alert in Christ,

Megan

One new thing I’m adding to my blogs from now on is a “playlist.”  I’m going to list links to songs that have inspired me this week.  I just love how the Spirit speaks to me through music.  If you feel the same, check out what I’m listening to!  I hope it blesses you!

Playlist