One of the more telling things about being a Christian, no matter how new the claim might be, is a new-found understanding and appreciation of being by yourself – being by yourself with the Lord, that is. Some might call it prayer, others meditation. You can call it what you want to, but being alone with God is a whole lot different than being alone without God.
Understanding this reality, once you’ve accepted Christ as your Lord and Savior, can take some getting used to. Many of us have had great difficulty dealing with self. We can find countless things to do with time alone: lights get turned on, channel surfing starts, music blasts, people get called and shopping gets done.
We aren’t comfortable with who we really are. It might be fear. It might be shame. It could even be embarrassment.
The closer you get to accepting the Lord’s call upon you, the more you understand that facing up to your inner demons is required homework. Can’t escape. Can’t hide. Coming to grips with one’s sinful past is a prerequisite for all future relationships and some that you’re in right now, particularly the one with Jesus Christ. It’s that “truth will set you free” stuff.
Peace of reconciliation with one’s self begins and ends with the unadulterated truth that nothing can stand between you and the God who loves you: not your pride, not ego, not your insecurity, not your sinful nature and especially not your clouded view of who you think you really are, as opposed to who God knows you are.
If God’s in the picture, it’s just you and Him. And He accepts no substitutes for you: no pretenders, gamesters, no pretense or facades. After all, He knows who you are because He made you in His image, not yours.
But isn’t that the beauty of what He offers all of us? Isn’t it His essence that we actually seek? Before you attempt to answer with “yes,” understand that “yes” means you will never be alone again in life or in death.
I’m talking about getting used to the man or woman in the mirror. That is exactly who God made and whom He loves, warts and all. One of the most awesome things about this revelation is that once it is internalized, it is the most powerful gift in this and any other world.
Now you can fill those otherwise lonely moments with the truth that you are surrounded by the ever-present crowd of One. The key is knowing you’ve always got that one ever-present companion. In His eyes, you are the extraordinary one. After all, we are made in His image.
Now, go find a quiet spot away from everyone and look for Him inside you. Listen carefully. Hear obediently. Believe and let God bless you.
