Back to Bethel

woman with book in hand on road

Originally Posted On: My Purpose Now

By Sharon Ruff—

Restlessness compelled me to ask, What am I doing? My heart longed to be in God’s presence. But I realized that I had fallen into that common deception of loving and honoring the work I was doing for God more than loving and honoring Him. Like so many others, I had become just another fast-food Christian.

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I, too, had settled for living my spiritual life by simply stopping off at times for a quick, unsatisfying bite with God. But this sort of spiritual nibbling provided me no real value or sustenance; it would never satisfy my heart’s true hunger.

I realized I needed to seek the place where we Christians go when we are restless, running, or desperate for God; I needed to seek Bethel. Even though Bethel in Hebrew means “House of God,” it is not an actual place or residence at all. Instead, Bethel is a presence.

Bethel is the place where sometimes the most you can utter is “Oh, God. . .” because there are no words to adequately describe your circumstances. Bethel is where you weep before the Lord waiting for His consolation. In the Old Testament, Jacob’s Bethel was a rock in the wilderness on which he slept exhausted from fleeing from his murderous brother. When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” (Gen 28:16) He called that place Bethel.

Once you have experienced the wonder and presence of Bethel, you long to return.  One of my own friends feeling her need to reconnect with the Lord, recited this heart cry:

Lord, help me relocate my Bethel

Lord, will You please meet me there

As I come, I’ll throw off all my baggage

And return to You, with heart open and bare

Begin your journey right where you are. Simply express your desire to God and let Him guide you to the place He has already prepared. He’s waiting to restore your spirit, soul, and body in His presence.

LET’S PRAY:  God, I’m not satisfied with a drive-through relationship. I long for an intimate, undistracted time with You. Show me how. Show me where. Show me when. I’m going Back to Bethel. I can’t wait! 

 

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