Introduction Sometimes God allows certain circumstances arise in our lives, just to see if we are so honest and sincere when speaking in his name. Therefore, he allows to happen in our life difficulties, hardships, oppression, disease, and family problems. Why does God allow the desert in our lives?. The very word of God tells us that sometimes God himself sends us to the desert. And so we have no doubt about it, remember that even the Son of God, it was exempt from testing. The Holy Spirit led him into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil (Mt.4.1).
The people of Israel lived in Egypt for 430 years, most of this period were as slaves. They lived in freedom repressed and controlled by the Egyptians who had strange customs and beliefs to the spiritual values of Israel. This resulted in the assimilation of certain habits and behaviors, and the emergence of petty feelings, mediocre and naysayers, which became more evident in the desert. These were feelings that the people of Israel complained about everything and lost good opportunities to enhance the experience of God in the desert. Thus, the people were becoming more hostile and bitter.
The desert environment enabled Israel to not only realize their limitations and challenges, but also the greatness of God as evidenced by great works, precious lessons. These experiments were necessary to change this nation God's way, because as His people, it should fulfill their purpose here on earth as it was told Abraham: "In thee shall be blessed all the families of the earth" (Gn.12.3) .
When we talk about the desert the first thing that comes to mind is to imagine a region that does not rain, a warm place and dry, unable to support little life. A place of much sand and rocks, where there is no comfort, no water to drink. And the spiritual wilderness, which comes to the reality?. I can define in a nutshell: WHERE IS THE GOD DEEPLY TOUCH THE SOUL OF MAN.
Dear, the spiritual desert is exactly the same thing. It is our "life dry" in the presence of a God who gives us life and life in abundance. God allows to happen in our lives the desert to prove our hearts, if he is firm in him, or if we are still wavering in their faith. The desert brings man face to face with God. As the man shows his weakness, he is forced to seek refuge and support in the Lord. Note that after the euphoria of the Exodus and the miracle of crossing the Red Sea, where all have dry feet behind them, the sea was closed only by showing that God opens the way for their children, and the path that God has opened for youno one will pass!. You believe that?!.
The people began their trek through the desert, followed by the trials, because God the gold for the more refined in the fire, the purer it is, and is your best value!. It is in the desert we stripped ourselves. It is against the truth. It is when we broken in a hostile environment, where we do not like and not used to being. Know that God does not attract children to the desert or cowards, but men who demonstrate courage to fight and win the battles that are there. Jesus himself gave testimony to a brave man would be found in the desert when speaking of John the Baptist (Matt. 11.7-14).
The desert is a work of God, where He directs his elect (Os.2.16). This is where God seems to lure us into an experience. A call from God, to delve into deeper intimacy with the Lord. We can not be tempted to say that the desert is a divine punishment, which is not true, because even the great men of God had this experience in their lives. God promises to help us get through this period, we label as wilderness.
In the desert, He protects us, defends us, help us, and to deliver us from dangers. Wilderness is a place of passage, is not a place to live!. Perhaps you are thinking like this: If the wilderness is a place of loneliness, lack of perspective, we walk aimlessly, we feel sad, dejected and bitter, so why not avoid God we passed by this place so bleak?.
Beloved, we can not help it!. One day we will all have to go through it!. Think different!. Remember, we had to cross the desert to the people of God could reach the land which the Lord had promised!. Desert is a place where we experience God's miracles, even in the midst of so much adversity. A place where there is no answer to all our questions, however there exists the most important thing: the Presence of God. This is where God rules all our lives!. The desert is a place of self-knowledge and preparation for the warriors who are willing to learn to win!.
Although the desert is a place of scarcity, struggle and suffering, is also a source of permanent power, the scene where God wants us to train, prepare and change our lives for it to be a reference for our church, for our friends and our families. God wants everyone to see her example of Christian life. Let us look at the Seven Paths to God leads us so that our life is impacted!.
THE FIRST WAY - IN THE DESERT IN HUMBLE He knows that the greatest enemy of ourselves is the ego, pride, vanity, pride, arrogance, self-sufficiency. God wants to deliver us from our self-righteousness that refuses to recognize our own sins. God wants to get rid of hypocrisy, of high moral standards, we insist to show others, but that does not actually move a finger to live them. God wants to get rid of a critical spirit that sees the speck in our brother's eye, but can not see the beam that is in your eyes!.
In the desert, God makes us see who we really are. The masks fall. The most intimate sins are revealed. Repentance and contrition are followed by God's forgiveness that makes us humble in his presence. The Lord knows us very well, but we do not know as He knows us!. Crossing the desert helps to know us better, and become a better person. The way of the wilderness is difficult but not impossible for someone going through it. God through us!.
THE SECOND WAY - GOD IN THE DESERT RACE We have no doubt of God's omniscience. He knows what happens in the recesses of our hearts. At the same time, God wants evidence that we are ready to obey him wholeheartedly.Words alone, however they are moving are not enough for God.We confess that we love God with tears and we are ready to surrender our lives to him. Our hypocrisy!. It is in the desert that we will demonstrate the reality of our love for God. When things go well, it's easy to praise God. In the desert, we were surprised when we discover what is stored deep in our hearts.
If there's gossip, ingratitude and desire to return to Egypt or an unshakeable faith in Him who promised a land flowing with milk and honey. Each cross in the desert that our lives will be invaluable to our spiritual growth!. It is a place of opportunity, a meeting place where our tears will be more true. There we find what we thought was not really what we are!. It is there that our values will be questioned. That's where we see our limits when we face our weaknesses. That's where we are exposed, and the most intimate feelings of the heart, are brought out.
When we are put to the test by God, we discover that our own forces are limited. When the Lord confronts us in the desert, we begin to understand how we are spiritually weak and need a foundation called God to support all the evidence.
THE THIRD WAY - THE DESERT GOD GIVE U.S. YOUR SUPPLY While we live under the illusion that we can solve our problems and lead our lives, we will not know what is God's intervention.Rely more on our check against, our possessions, our skills, our assets. It is in the desert we find that the water can flow out of the stone and the bread of heaven may come. In the desert we experience God's presence unmistakable acting in our lives, to bear witness that he is the living God and Eternal.
The people needed to learn that their very existence depended not on their own efforts, but of God to meet those needs. Every morning God would say a new word and provide food that day. In Matthew ch. 4 cap.4 and Luke Jesus gives us a fine example when he won the first temptation of Satan. Though hungry, chose to wait one word of God, knowing that waiting for the Father is more essential to life than the food itself!. It is this fact that the wilderness experience with its severe hardship, overcome every day by divine provision, intended to teach the Hebrew people.
THE FOURTH WAY - GOD IN THE DESERT Spiritual Food Not by bread alone does man live, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. The truth of God feeds us, strengthens us, guides us, corrects us, educates us, discipline us. She is our life. Like a tree beside a river, so is he who loves God's Word. Its leaves are green and the fruits are abundant. As a father, God disciplines us for us to reach maturity.
So do not fail in the desert. There is a purpose. There is a need.And when you enter the promised land, you will remember that the most valuable life lessons were learned in the desert. And to our surprise we understand that God was always present in our desert. Blessed are those who crossed the desert and have not lost their affection for God, for they could see through the darkness, the light of God.
THE FIFTH WAY - LEARN MORE IN THE DESERT OF GOD In the desert we found something valuable: the rebirth of our soul and our spirit. If the soul was corrupt will be sane. If the spirit was sick will be healed. If you were old, will be again!. If the heart was proud and vain, become humble. If you were far from God, will certainly be closer to Him!. When we are in the desert no one gets!. It is only God and us!. God wants us to get close to Him!.
That's when we must open our hearts to learn. Learning from God, learn more about God and His Word. Show our errors depend more from Him, learning to love others more, learn to do good for others, and learn to forgive others. God teaches us to practice, set in motion something that was lost and dormant within us!.
At the end of our journey through the desert, we've already learned not to worry about the circumstances that surround us. I no longer care if the dunes were high, the sun was very hot, very cold night, or if the path was too long. The best lesson to teach us the desert is that God was present all the time with us, protecting us and keeping of the great dangers (Is.43.2).
The sixth path - LEARN TO PRAY IN THE DESERT AND BE DEPENDENT ON GOD As we draw closer to God and receive the assurance of our Lord to change and transformation, if we have fellowship with Him?.Communion of intimacy!. True Approach to talk with him!. How can we learn to hear God's voice, if not through prayer. And as we learn of God, if there is no intimacy with him?.
We will only deal with the Lord if we linked to him in our prayers.Do not make prayers to ask for unnecessary things, unimportant things in your life. Look for it!. Search it! Wish it!. Weep for him!.He longs for!. Only then will grow and become dependent on his power and glory to overcome the desert.
The man who depends on God is one who lives in righteousness, has no heart "dry" cold, arid are not your thoughts, nor his ministry is sterile. The subject of God's revelation, anointing, grace. It is victorious in Christ.
THE SEVENTH PATH - LEARN TO CRY IN THE DESERT AND CRY OUT TO GOD Many only know how to whisper, when the odds appear. So it was with the Hebrew people. They did not know quite what they wanted. Sometimes they wanted to go into Canaan, another time, wanted to return to Egypt. But how to go forward without looking back?. Simply crying, weeping and broken before the Lord. The heart may even be indecisive at such times, but even so God will be present to help us in our doubts!.
Nowadays, due to a life full of commitments, people often overlook the time for God, spend almost the entire time on activities that do not have much value in the light of eternity. Eg dedicate much time to our work and little time to worship, read books, magazines, watch television, go to the movies, but few who read the Bible. We talk a lot with our friends, but most do not speak of God to them, and soon we're left not dedicated to prayer! ..
This brings us great spiritual harm, because we lost our spiritual sensitivity. This is why the Bible urges us to apply due diligence in our time management, and tells us to "redeem the time because the days are evil." In the desert we have all the time in the world to God. It is when we shed in his presence, we cry out to Him, we all worship services, participate in campaigns, cry, praise, pray, honor. It is in the wilderness that we learn to trust, to obey and to know God better.
Conclusion Beloved, when going through your desert, remember that walking at his side, has a mighty God to guide you through the end of the road. God knows you will reach the end of your journey, because the poor can not go far in its mission. God knows that impatience and misunderstanding will be part of your way. We need to understand that the desert is not just a phase in our life, but a spiritual principle.
God wants us to recognize that the desert is part of his discipline, but also a sublime moment of knowing how our hearts were full of wrong reasons. When we look at our churches, we can see that many others are entering and leaving the desert.Whenever God need to transform our character, it is possible that many will be launched in the desert. The time of our stay there will depend not only murmur, to accept and obey the Lord's will.
May the Lord bless you all greatly. Amen
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