You ever have those times when you’re dry?  Just kind of flat?  Maybe discouraged a little?

That’s where I’ve been the last few days… a week or so.

I’ve been reading this book called “Forgotten God” by Francis Chan.  It’s blowing my mind right now.  It’s all about how the church as a whole has forgotten about the Holy Spirit.  With a lot of scripture to back it up, he gets back to the basis of who the Holy Spirit is and why He’s here.  Amazing… and needed.

But, he asked this question in the chapter I read today: “Why do you even want [the Holy Spirit]?”  Chan then began to walk through the passage in James where it’s said that we pray for the wrong things… our own gains rather than GOD’s.  We get bent out of shape when we don’t get what we pray for, but it’s because we’re not focusing on the right part of prayer… GOD will, not ours.  He makes comments about how a talented band and a captivating speaker and grow a church, but that’s not what it’s about.  Ultimately we miss out on the power of the Holy Spirit because we have the wrong focus.

GUILTY.  Our band at Crosspoint works hard to be excellent.  I’ve had the dream of thousands of people coming to Crosspoint.  And, I’ve done this for me… not GOD.  I’ve had my head up my butt.

But, it’s not just church stuff where we get our priorities mixed up.  I heard Andy Stanley say once that God didn’t call him to build the church.  HE called him to build his family.

GUILTY.  I’ve sacrificed family time for “my calling.”  I work too much too often and blame GOD for it.  I regularly mistake my work for my faith.

It makes me feel dry.

+ Pray for me.  I’m praying for you.

PJT//