Crazy Dreams with Good Purposes

Tell me where you want me to go and I will go there. May every fiber of my being unite in reverence to your name.—Psalm 86:11, Living

It happened one night...

I was standing in front a group of people of all ages and several walks of life. The location was not familiar but seemed to be outside. In the front was a group of people who looked eager to be taught the Word of God and were there with a sense of expectancy. Behind them was a group of young children who were, oddly, not fidgeting and wiggling but seemed to have been touched in a powerful way by the Holy Spirit. Behind them was a group like a gospel choir in robes, ready to worship at the first downbeat. And then these words began to come out of my mouth: "God, thank You that You always desire to reveal Yourself to us through Your Word and in other powerful and real ways, so please send us revelation today that we may see and hear..." At that moment, a loud noise arose as from a nearby construction site. The people in the front row were all interrupting, complaining that they couldn't hear. At the same time, the choir group was making hand motions that said "take a picture! take a picture!" of the young children who seemed to be in the wonderful grasp of the Spirit. The voices and noises grew louder, even with an overriding sense that all of us had come, and were determined to stay, to hear from God....

A crazy dream can be chalked up to things like spicy pizza for dinner, life on overload, and a brain working to process through a weighty to-do list. But when the things of God show up in the plot line, it's a good idea to think again.

This one didn't take too much unraveling. This was my life. Maybe yours, too. Despite our best intentions of starting the day with eagerness and expectancy to hear from God, to be filled with the power of His Spirit in a naturally supernatural way, to want to set aside time to breathe in thankfulness and breathe out praise, something inevitably gets in the way:

The noise of every day distractions, from just about every direction. And every time they get in the way, it can feel like our good intentions and mission were a waste of time. "Why bother? Just wait until Sunday morning...."

...Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to His teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me." But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her." (Luke 19:38-42, ESV)

For some reason, Jesus loved hanging out in the home of Mary and Martha and Lazarus in the town of Bethany. And in pulpits down through the ages, the good example of Mary's devotion has been lifted up over that of sister Martha, who seems to be the Gospel's poster child for what distraction looks like. Mary, good. Be like Mary. Martha, not so good. Don't be like Martha.

Except later on, when Jesus learns that brother Lazarus is seriously ill and He purposes to head back to Bethany, these are the stunningly comforting words that John records:

Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. (John 11:5)

The dream come true is this:

Thank You, Lord, that despite what we may have heard about this story down through the years, You don't play favorites with Your kids. You love us just as much in our times of focused devotion as in our multiplied-more times of unfocused distraction, when life noisily crashes in as an uninvited guest. Thank You that You totally get us. We look at circumstances and how other people may respond, but thank God, You always look at our heart and its intentions and desires. And You love us, oh how You love us still. Love us so much as not to let us off the hook, but to help us to remember, yes, Mary. But not as a comparison to measure up to but as an example for persevering in the good journey; that distractions are a given (even to Mary) on any day, and may be the Adversary's biggest weapon to try to get us off course, but as You said of her, to keep choosing over and over the "good portion," the  better thing. If not hours of devotion, then 15 minutes somewhere in the chaos, or on the run between Task A and Task B. Just...keep...choosing to go there. Or rather, here. Because Here, is strength. Here, is joy. Here, is peace. Here, is perspective on what really matters. Here, is wherever You are, which is everywhere I am, no matter what time of day. However this day unfolds, in peace or going nuts, "let every fiber of my being unite in reverence to Your Name." Yes, and amen.

"So I will rest in Your promises

My confidence is Your faithfulness"