EARLY AND OFTEN…
Sometimes in my DAWG time, there is a lot of clarity and simplicity to how the Holy Spirit works. Last week was one of those times. Like most mornings, there were a number of things on my mind, but one significant thing was the upcoming TEAM Leader Training which happens once a month for the men who lead at your table each week. Pete and I were going to be sharing with them about an initiative Forge will be launching in August for Forge men. As this was stirring in my mind, I read the following scripture from Paul in his letter to the church at Corinth.
For even when we came into Macedonia…
our bodies had no rest
we were afflicted at every turn
fighting without
fear within.
But God,
who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, and not only by his coming but also by the comfort with which he was comforted by you, as he told us of your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced still more.
2 Corinthians 7:5-7
As I read this, I was reminded about what happens at Forge each week. We gather together and hear powerful talks founded on Gods’ Great Truth for us and then we talk about it around the table. But many times, what happens around the table is more than sharing thoughts, the REAL things going on in our lives are shared with one another. Just like Paul described his condition… our bodies had no rest, we were afflicted at every turn, fighting without, fear within. Paul and his team were struggling but read what he says about that…But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus. Paul and his TEAM found comfort from God, but it was through other men. This is how God works in a FORGE man’s life.
But then I read this scripture from the prophet Isaiah…The Servant of God says, The Lord God has given Me the tongue of a disciple and of one who is taught, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary. He wakens Me morning by morning, He wakens My ear to hear as a disciple, as one who is taught!
Isaiah 50:4
So here we gather together each week and in those times that we have a brother struggling, what do we do, what words do we have for him? This word from Isaiah was so good because he says… that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary. But then he describes how it is that he has these words for the weary… He wakens Me morning by morning, He wakens My ear to hear as a disciple, as one who is taught!
Did you catch that, this guy is talking about his DAWG! Just like God woke him up in the morning, so God does with us. And in those quiet moments in the morning, He gives us an ear to hear, and be taught, and to follow Him. Then, out of this time with our Good, Good Father we are equipped to speak words to the weary, whatever that looks like.
I’ve heard it said, when we say, “Let’s go to Jesus together,” that we do our best encouraging. In those moments, the pressure is off because “Grace Energized” is on.
Let’s go to Jesus early and often as Forge brothers…Kelley
