I went to my first church service at Grace Midtown in Atlanta on Sunday with a few of my CGA housemates.
The church was kicking off a new series that day, and Part One was called ‘The Cave.’
The concept behind The Cave is basically about taking back that intentional daily time with God that we should all be having.
A place to withdraw to and just sit, soaking in Father’s love, listening for His voice.
I’ll be honest – I haven’t been very good about my daily ’cave retreats’ lately. I have no excuse. I’ve been letting other things get in the way and take priority over my Cave time, which is SO backwards!
This first week is welcome week for us CGA-er’s, and today we talked about forgiveness and healing. Two words that seem to go hand in hand. You forgive someone who’s hurt you and you both heal.
But these are two different words and two different processes.
Sure, you’ll probably heal a bit once you’ve forgiven someone, but you need to keep putting salve on that wound to finish the healing process so the wound will close up and not hurt you anymore.
I used to layer these two words, forgiveness and healing, together synonymously, expecting one to just follow the other, but it’s deeper than that.
I truly believe that a great deal of my healing will take place in The Cave as long as I take the time to step into the Cave and actually sit down and be still in it.
I do think that some days God will say “Today I want you to get up and explore the Cave. Take a look in that dark corner – I know this part is a little scarier but I promise I’m right beside you and I’m going to help you deal with whatevers in that corner.
Some spots He’ll lead me to in the Cave will be beautiful! Like a picture etched on the wall; a happy memory from my past. Or, a glimpse into the future, a picture forming of what’s going to be.
Some areas of the Cave are really dirty, haven’t been touched in awhile and need to be cleaned. Those areas need attention to.
Right now I’m reminded of how many times David fled from Saul in the Old Testament.
Where did God take David most often in those times of fear and pursuit?
Into the mountains and hills, into the safety of the Caves!
Sure, there could have been lions or bears in those caves that David didn’t know about, but God made sure David was running TO safety – NOT danger.
There might be a lion or a bear in your Cave. I don’t know.
I’m pretty sure there’s been a couple in my Cave from time to time, but God never leaves us to fight them alone.
He‘s always marching in their right beside us, ready to help us fight our battles.
Are you ready to walk into the Cave?
“So much to do in so little time, it’s a crazy life, it’s ready, set, go it’s another wild day.
When the stress is on the rise in my heart I feel You say just
Breathe, just breathe.
Come and rest at my feet
And be, just be
Chaos calls but all you really need
Is to just be.“
(Johnny Diaz – Breathe)
