THE WILDERNESS

I see very little life where I am. The land is dry and exhaustion creeps over my body. I search for shade in a cloudless sky as heat from the red hot sun pierces my flesh. Unrelentless and cruel conditions pound me every step I take. As I inhale the dry air, my tongue clings to the roof of my mouth. Exhaling gives me no relief. It's like fire escaping from a window in a burning building. I fall to my knees with my face caked with dust, tears, and sweat.

In the distance I spot a single broom tree. I manage to muster up what little strength I have left and hobble over to this pitiful looking tree. Underneath this poor excuse for a shelter I pray for my death. Wallowing in my tears and anguish I slowly drift into a deep sleep.
HEAT
THIRST
EXHAUSTION
NO LIFE, NO HOPE, GIVE ME DEATH!

Suddenly I'm awakened by a sharp jab and a familiar voice.
GET UP! EAT AND DRINK!
My eyes are swollen from crying as I try to make out the figure speaking to me. Above my head is some BREAD and and jar of WATER. I quickly consume the food and drift into sleep again.
And again I am awakened by the touch and familiar voice.
GET UP! EAT AND DRINK! YOU WILL NEED YOUR STRENGTH FOR THE LONG JOURNEY AHEAD!

The food restores me to full strength. I feel replenished, almost brand new. Pulling myself off the ground the figure vanishes before I could thank him for his hospitality. I begin to walk and don't stop until 40 days and nights later. I'm at the foot of a mountain. I begin to ascend the mountain and find shelter in a dark cave for the night.

A voice echos through the cave, WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?
I responded, "I've been on fire for your name FATHER! I never stopped following you! People neglect you and do whatever they want! I am the only one of my kind left! The enemy is attacking me and it feels like you've left me!

GO OUT AND STAND ON THE MOUNTAIN, FOR I'M ABOUT TO PASS BY!

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountain apart and shattered the rocks, but HE was not in the wind. Then there was a terrifying earthquake, but HE was not in the earthquake. Then came a roaring fire, but HE was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper that pierced me to my soul. My heart melted and love consumed me as HIS mighty whisper drew me near to HIM.

MY SON, WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?

PAUSE

This is where I am. My FATHER is teaching me some hard lessons in my wilderness. HE wants to teach me some new aspects of him and I need to endure. Right now the bread (the word) and water (the word, the spirit) is what I need to be eating for the journey ahead. The word is spirit and life, and without it I can't survive the wilderness. I praise God for HIM taking the time to make me more Christ-like. Jesus was wrought in the wilderness and I will be too.

This is my prayer...FATHER FEED ME YOUR WORD. FILL ME WITH YOUR BREAD OF LIFE AND LIVING WATER SO THAT I WILL BE STRONG ENOUGH FOR THE JOURNEY AHEAD. EVERYTHING AROUND IS AGAINST ME BUT GREATER IS HE WHO IS IN ME THAN HE THAT IS IN THE WORLD. IF YOU ARE WITH ME THEN WHO CAN BE AGAINST ME? FATHER THIS JOURNEY IS HARD BUT WITH YOU I KNOW ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE. EVEN NOW I FEEL YOU RESTORING ME! HALLELUJAH!!! I REBUKE FEAR AND DOUBT AND CAST IT OUT IN THE NAME OF JESUS! I WILL SPEAK WITH YOUR POWER AND AUTHORITY! YOUR WORDS WILL FLOW THROUGH ME LIKE A MIGHTY WIND THAT RIPS APART THE HARDEST OF HEARTS, AN EARTHQUAKE THAT SHAKES THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE SOUL, A FIRE THAT IGNITES THE SPIRIT, AND THE GENTLE WHISPER THAT WILL BARE WITNESS TO YOUR LOVE! I LOVE YOU FATHER AND MAY I BRING GLORY TO YOUR MAJESTIC AND HOLY NAME! I GIVE YOU ALL THE PRAISE AND HONOR! I BELIEVE AND RECEIVE ALL THESE REQUESTS BY FAITH AND SEAL THEM WITH THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. I PRAY ALL THESE THINGS IN THE NAME ABOVE ALL NAMES, JESUS CHRIST, AMEN! AMEN! AMEN!

WILDMAN IN THE FERTILE WILDERNESS