Motivation Behind More Than Faith

At the beginning of 2020, I experienced what I have come to call a Fourth Watch moment that lasted almost a year. Each night I was wide awake at 3:30 am. This was a period of personal brokenness, emotional and spiritual exhaustion. The verse from Mathew provided inspiration.

“Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

Sharing this experience is an effort to encourage others. This journey of prayer, and searching the word brought a time of great challenge. For me, this was a time of spiritual and emotional exhaustion. Basically, I was a hot mess! Sometimes, it is difficult for a preacher to admit. Each night, I awakened at 3:30 a.m. Unable to sleep, I began searching through Scripture and praying. Each night different people and circumstances came to heart. These were my lessons that rolled into my spiritual and emotional being. Each night a new and wonderful lesson that caused me to dive into prayer and into the word. The quiet hour brought on a deeper experience of prayer. I desired more out of prayer and out of the word. I was a hot mess at the time and struggling to make sense out of me. Tired, worn out experiencing a depth of depression like never before. Each night I approached God from the stillness in prayer- asking nothing of Him just wanting to be with Him- it led to a deeper understanding of His word. This experience of quietness, prayer, and the Word engrained the desire to be better: to live

“More than Faith”-to move from belief to action on what I believed.

To do this: To be proactive in letting people know that I care and love them. To say it and act upon it. To listen intently to others. Shut up and listen. To share a kind word. To everyone. Avoid being too busy to make time for people. To show gratitude, as it is so meaningful. To trust others more. When I laid down my list and came in prayer just to sit in His presence to seek Him in the word without a lesson or direction led to discovering how to love more, to live more passionately, intimately, and openly. Brokenness can be transformational when we open ourselves to His Grace and to His love. Those were the challenges that I am still working on. Developing that deeper experience has led me to have “more than faith”- it’s taking action to encourage, to love more,to hug more, be more grateful, be blessed, and be a blessing in life. Thankful that my wife was so supportive during this time. She loved me and held my hand as I moved through a challenging journey.  Take the journey of prayer and meditation. Find a quiet place and be with Him, worship Him in prayer, and search His word from prayer.

Until next time.

Pastor Mike