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It is a good thing when teams of people band together for a great cause - synergy is created. Putting just the right people onto a common task multiplies talents and expands impact. In light of this priority, maybe a reminder for solitude is essential.

When you enter the crucible of crisis, you enter alone. This does not exclude the principle of protection found in the local church. It does not explain away the impact of friendship or the role of encouragement from another.

The sense of being alone shocks us. Makes us feel as if something is drastically wrong. It makes us even doubt the road we traverse at the time. It is nonetheless a good reminder that the struggle of faith is always a solo flight across a vast ocean - and has not been uncommon.

  • Jacob did not tag-team with anyone as he wrestled with God.
  • Elijah sought solitude and heard God's still small voice.
  • Jesus fasted for 40 days. His only company: Satan. (How often does he show up at these holy times?)

While you go through faith-building experiences, as you look for a breakthrough, do not be overwhelmed by the sense of lonliness.

As my sister walked through the valley, she shared a vital lesson that resides with me still: Somedays you will have to preach to yourself, rather than listen to yourself.

Don't believe everything your heart tells you. Preach the word of God to your own heart. A dosage of solitude is a good and healthy thing.

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If you get married as Jacob did, putting the weight of all your deepest hopes and longings on the person you are marrying, you are going to crush him or her with your expectations. It will distort your life and your spouse's life in a hundred ways. No person, not even the best one, can give your soul all it needs. You are going to think you have gone to bed with Rachel, and you will get up and it will always be Leah. This cosmic disappointment and disillusionment is there in all of life, but we especially feel it in the thing upon which we most set our hopes.

Tim Keller, Counterfeit Gods, pg 38-39

Keller is one of the most gifted speakers, taking a Manhattan postmodern society and introducing them to biblical truths and a dynamic relationship with Jesus. He points out is this masterful work, how many things serve as a counterfeit god, when God does not reside as the only king to the throne.

It is a sad state when something so beautiful as a marital partner is a tool to getting filled up. We are all very leaky people, with leaky hearts and leaky love. Some areas cannot be healed with the science of modern medicine. Only when a heavenly love is experienced will a person no longer clamor on another with expectations that are unrealistic.

Being addicted to a human relationship is, as Keller points out, idolatry and a counterfeit god.

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A pastor once asked his church to pray that God would shut down a neighborhood bar. The whole church gathered for an evening prayer meeting, pleading with God to rid the neighborhood of the evils of this bar. A few weeks later, lightning struck the bar and it burned to the ground.Having heard about the church's prayer crusade, the bar owner promptly sued the church. When the court date finally arrived, the bar owner passionately argued that God struck his bar with lightning because of the church members' prayers. The pastor backtracked, brushing off the accusations. He admitted the church prayed, but he also affirmed that no one in his congregation really expected anything to happen.The judge leaned back in his chair, a mix of amusement and perplexity on his face. Finally he spoke: "I can't believe what I'm hearing. Right in front of me is a bar owner who believes in the power of prayer and a pastor who doesn't."

Craig Groeschel, the Christian atheist, pg.75

I have just finished weeping for the lost, for my heart, for our ministry - three hours. And it was an ugly cry.

During that time I came to realize something about my soul - I would rather give money to see people come to Christ (Debbie and I are giving a few thousand for a project right now) and it does not cause my heart much turmoil. I would rather work long hours at just about any kind of task. But when it comes to praying - it is simpy too emotionally turbulent. My soul would rather avoid it at all costs. So that is what I do, I avoid it. That is what I found out about myself today.

And here is the ugly truth - that is part of the reason that I don't pray with that kind of intensity very often. And I feel so guilty and ashamed, that I don't even like to admit it. But it is true.

But Hannah cried and prayed ... and God gave her a prophet son.

But Jesus cried and prayed ...  and God was honored and our ransom was paid.

But Paul prayed ... and his world was changed.

Maybe, just maybe, God will do it again.

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A prudent question is one-half of wisdom.

Francis Bacon

How intentional are you in determining your future? What question do you have that determines your focus?

Jesus stated with clarity, that doors open to those that are knocking. Seek and you will find. If a person is not looking for a specific answer to a question, then it would only seem logical that no answer will be found. The only problem with that strategy is simple: Life is reduced to being 'whatever', rather than intentional.

Somehow that seems just a little shallow. Is that how we desire our children to be in searching for a partner to marry? Is that how we choose a career? Don't we use a little better criteria in investing in a house?

What will this year hold? How intentional are you in moving forward in shaping your life? In impacting others? In honoring your Savior?

What is your one question? Formulating that is specific terms will guide your prayer life, your conversations, your reading.

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During a recent visit a really good friend gave me a copy of Bob Beaudine's book, The Power of Who. Bob's premise is simple: You already know everything you need to know.

In chapter 4 Beaudine states with simplicity: Most people never get what they want for three simple reasons:

1. They don't ask. No one can help if they don't know what you want.

2. When they do ask, they ask the wrong people. For some reason, people are uncomfortable asking their "Who" for help [Those are the people with the specific skillset or professional training to assist you in getting tasks completed.] As a result, they'll ask most anyone except their friends, who are the only ones with a motive to help.

3. When they do ask for help, they ask too vaguely. Even if I'm motivated to help a friend, I can't do it when I don't know what he or she wants.

Bob Beaudine, The Power of Who, pg. 51

Before you catch the author in his own words, of course you do not know everything you need to know. If that was the case, then you would not need to ask your network of friends for assistance. His point is that you are looking for the fairy godmother to appear that will make all your dreams come true. You already have a network of people that have their own connections and activating those will bring resources required to move forward in any area.

A very interesting premise and one worth pondering.

  1. Barksdale made his mark