Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. To kick off this new day I sat waiting to feel the Presence of the Lord as I usually do, but I can’t say that I actually did. I know my Omnipresent Lord is always with me but I wanted to FEEL Him this morning. I praised Him. I exalted Him. I thanked Him and I made a few requests – but I didn’t “feel” anything in return. When I didn’t “feel” anything I set out to examine my Heart to see if there was any reason within me for the silence. The last thing I want is for something within me to hinder my Relationship with the King of all kings, so that’s ALWAYS the first stop to check the pulse of our Relationship. He’ll NEVER wrong me…but have I wronged Him? I found a few things that I needed to Adjust and I asked Him for Forgiveness – and I felt uplifted even though He was still “silent.” Some people might wonder why I try so hard sometimes, but that’s because He’s my everything and I’m desperate for my God. The words of the Psalmist define my Heart far better than I can “As a deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for Thee, O God.” Isn’t that the way it is in your Journey of Faith too?

It can be so easy to gauge anything in life by what we feel or don’t feel, but a Quality Life isn’t measured by what we “feel.” We don’t exist to be entertained, and we won’t always have warm fuzzy feelings. Everything in life has a season of silence – from work to relationships to time with Living God. When we don’t “feel” excited, or successful, or loved, or appreciated, or anything else we often point to someone or something else for the reason why. Silence isn’t always a bad thing, but when things are silent the FIRST STOP should be to examine ourselves to see if there is anything within us that is hindering the “feelings.” That is NOT taking the blame for every season of silence – it’s doing our Part to find the Truth. As long as we insist on placing blame for how we feel or don’t feel we never Mature and we lose much more than we gain. I don’t know why I didn’t “feel” anything from my God this morning, but I DO KNOW that the most important thing for me is to be sure that I’m NOT the reason why. After that, I continue to do my part and I NEVER read into what I feel while I wait patiently for Him.

I’ll be doing lots of things in His Name today but the most important thing isn’t necessarily what to do with my mind or my hands – the most important is the Condition of my Heart while I Serve Him. If I don’t “feel” from someone else, the first stop will be for me to Examine myself before I ever turn to them for the cause. I’m desperate for my God and Pleasing Him is my Biggest Priority. If I have that part right, everything else just falls into place “feelings” and all.

How about you?