Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Friday February 9, 2007

The other day a friend called and asked me if I had heard about…. I listened and then said, "No, I haven't." He then told me about a tough time a mutual friend was going through. I assured him I would pray for the friend and do all I can to help.

We then talked about how I had been missed with the news concerning our friend's trouble. I shared my take on it with him and as I thought about it the more I thanked the Lord that I had in fact been overlooked and in some cases ignored. Earlier in life I would have been deeply hurt by the snub, but over the years since I have been poor in material things I have adapted to reality.

In other days I would have been so busy trying to work out my messianic complex that about all I would have accomplished for weeks would have involved rallying troops for the hurting brother. One of the blessings of being rich in the coin of another realm is the fact that you don't have to stop what you're doing and help. You see, I have learned in the last 18 years that when gaggles of folks call you to share the troubles of another, they want one of two things, to gossip, this was not the case in my call the other day, or they want $$$$. This is usually caged in prayers and whatever else, but the 'whatever' else is the main reason for the call. Fact of life, in the country or the big city.

When it dawned on me that I was no longer the 'go to guy' I found that the Lord was drawing me aside for another, more fruitful work that has touched thousands, giving them new hope in Christ. To do what I do requires an enormous amount of solitude, of time to pause and ponder the wonder of Christ and His enduring goodness to us who bear his name.

In the days of Isaiah, the up town prophet who became God’s spokesman to the rank and file, the secret of peace was proclaimed many times to the people as we are told in Isaiah 30:15:

"For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not."

I learned from this verse the beauty of spending time with the Lord, days, weeks, and often months with few interruptions. There really is a grand power in 'quietness and confidence,' being still long enough to let Jesus increase your faith, your confidence in Him.

It's surprising that in our time the people religious have forgotten the quiet place near to the heart of God. Lost people of great achievement seem to grasp the value of 'quiet times' and take advantage of the opportunities.

Thomas Alva Edison wrote:

"The best thinking has been done in solitude. The worst has been done in turmoil."

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2007 Use with credit

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