Finding your way out of the Wilderness

Perspective is Everything
Much of life is influenced by perspective more than reality.

Having the correct perspective, which may not be your perspective, is a critical component in the recipe of life.  Only the correct perspective will yield the results you are looking for.

It’s all about where you are at in life. A young child has a very limited perspective and so their scope of understanding is very narrow. An elderly person has the perspective of years and experience to help them.

A person who has been trained to walk by the Spirit of God has a Godly perspective that can not be gained through worldly wisdom.

1 Corinthians 2:16 says that as Children of God, “we have the mind of Christ.”

Elijah in the Wilderness
It takes time for Godly maturity / perspectives to develop. I have a number of wilderness stories of my own but perhaps my favorite wilderness story is that of Elijah, found in 1 Kings 19.

Elijah had just had a phenomenal experience with the priests of baal but then his own life was threatened by jezebel. He became frightened and ran into the wilderness to rest and hide.

The “Angel of The Lord” met him there, fed him, and then directed him to another location where Elijah stayed in a cave and saw a lot of turbulence in the natural realm: But God wasn’t in the turbulence.  After 40 days God met him there, in the still, small voice of comfort. He asked Elijah “So, what are you doing here, Elijah”?

Elijah pled his case but God told him to leave, go back in the direction from which he came, and continue his ministry.

Lost wherever you are
As you know, you don’t have to actually be in the wilderness to feel lost, disoriented, or alone.

What about you? Do you feel as though you are in a wilderness?

In the story of Elijah, (1 Kings 19) we see two ways to find ourselves in a wilderness experience: 1) By our own choosing 2) By God’s direction. However there is also a third way to consider and that is by being a victim of evil.

How did I get here?
To discern how you arrived where you are trace your steps back to the beginning of the journey.  Was it the wanton actions of another that caused you to be where you are? Did you make an error causing you to take the wrong path? Perhaps there are generational curses, evil spirits, self pronounced curses, sin, relational issues, or a multitude of other spiritual influences that are preventing blessings from being released upon your life. Were you in earnest prayer and felt beyond a shadow of a doubt that you were doing what God wanted you to do at the time?

Which way do I go?
Once you have determined how you arrived where you then consider where you think God wants you to go and then begin to take the appropriate steps to go there. This might include asking for forgiveness, seeking healing if you were a victim, or if you feel God has led you there, you might ask God what He would like you to learn from the situation; if He led you there then you can expect Him to feed you just like He fed Elijah. Your answer may even lie in a combination of all three.  Often times seeking the counsel of a trusted friend or a counselor can help you with this part of the process.

How to get there…
Regardless of how you go about it, the wilderness is a place of learning; even if it takes time to learn how to learn.  Learn to find joy in the journey.  Regardless of how you arrived at where you are God can teach you a great deal there if you allow Him.

In the natural wilderness there are many skills to master such as fire, shelter, water, navigating, just to name a few; each of which can take a life time to fully develope.

So it is in the spiritual realm also. The art of prayer, discernment, the Word of God, Holy Spirit, fellowship with others, gifts of the Spirit, etc. etc. etc.. can all help you get to where you need to be and they can all take a life time to master.

“The wilderness” is kind of like fire… it can be your best friend or your worst enemy. Learn how to make it work for you as God intended.

One day soon God will be depending upon His people to travel the world, through the wilderness, to the second Exodus.  Are you ready?

Dr. Rayphe