Selah2020: Pause and Reflect

[This reflection was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 29/May/2022]

In April I was able to attend Spring Harvest (SH) at Minehead. For those of you who are not familiar with this annual event it’s for people of all ages and church backgrounds (or none), and features bible teaching, seminars and spirit filled worship. I would encourage you to go if you ever have the opportunity. It has never failed to challenge, encourage and inspire me.

The SH theme this year was ‘Restore, Renew and Rebuild’, guided by Rev Cris Rogers. This involved looking at the restoration story of Nehemiah in the Old Testament, and also exploring the challenge that Jesus gives the people of God to create a more hopeful, faith-filled future in our post pandemic world.

A few thoughts from one of the day’s teaching, looking at Nehemiah chapter 2, struck a cord with me so I share these as an encouragement for us as a fellowship.
* Keep doing what you are doing i.e. do what is right in front of you. Worship and serve God just where you are. It’s not always necessary to ‘go’ – just be who you are, where you are.
* do what you are doing with integrity. Rest assured the Holy Spirit is with us to guide and strengthen us.
* do it knowing that God is with you and His gracious hand is upon you (Nehemiah 2:18)
* do it with prayer. Never stop praying … incredible things happen when we pray.

The other thing that really hit home was when one speaker, exploring the subject of ‘renew’ suggested that we (yes, you and me) might actually be part of the solution to the things we pray about.

How often do I look for an answer ‘out there’, maybe for someone else to do something, when the solution might be nearer to home? I found that thought really encouraging, and now feel challenged to look differently at issues and people in my life that concern me. How can I, how can you, make a difference? We might not be or have the whole answer, but we might need to recognise our part in it, however ill equipped we may feel.

It might not be about doing something, although it could be exactly that – there’s plenty that needs doing! But equally it might be that we need to be more Christ like in a particular situation, as we try our best to be His “little anointed ones”.

Of course, and thank God, we never need do anything in our own strength, and we would be wise not to try! God will provide us with what we need when we step out in faith.

So what’s stirring your heart at this time? What are you praying about?

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