Nothing Else

Feb 12, 2022

“I'm caught up in Your presence, I just want to sit here at Your feet I'm caught up in this holy moment, I never wanna leave”

- Cody Carnes

How do you approach prayer? Do you go to God with your shopping list of needs? Maybe I should say “wants”? It’s easy to do, isn’t it. We’re busy and we really don’t have a lot of time to spend in worship, confession or adoration. Sound familiar?

Something so impactful that changed me happened the first time I went to South Africa and every subsequent time since. We landed in Johannesburg at a large modern airport. Making our way through customs, we saw our hosts off in the distance and ran eagerly to their warm embrace. There was a sense of relief, especially knowing all of the warnings about muggings and robberies, to be in the company of familiar faces.

Driving out of the city and suburbs into the townships, the landscape began to change drastically. The homes were simple tin shacks, one after another. People were walking along the road beside us to the nearest taxi stop, otherwise known as an overloaded passenger van, to get to work. Others just kept walking, mile after mile.

When we arrived at the warehouse-type building that was the church in Zenzele, with tin shacks surrounding it, I stepped out of the vehicle. Something mysterious happened. The red clay soil enveloped my feet and instantly I knew I was “home”.

I have not felt the power of the presence of Jesus like I felt in that space.

Watching people flood into the building, I learned that people walk for hours, not only from the surrounding squatter camps, but as far as Mozambique. A one hour worship service might go on for two or three hours. There was singing and dancing without inhibition. When I was the teacher, the words that tumbled from my mouth were not written on the page. (There is no such thing as a 30 minute message.) It’s not uncommon to be called up at any time during the service to give “a Word” to the congregation.

That type of service still continues there today. Because of your generosity, we’ve helped our friends in South Africa build a large, brick worship and counseling center. I’ve been thinking a lot about that church. In many ways, they may appear to be prisoners of poverty, and yet, they have a depth of intimacy with Jesus that in Western culture, unless we are intentional, will rarely come close to. I want what they have! It reminds me of when Paul and Silas were in prison. In Acts 16:25-31, the Bible says,

“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!” The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”

Our friends in Zenzele create time for worship. It is the most important part of their life. They aren’t like us in America, prisoners of wealth and filling our schedule with things we think will satisfy us. We’ve made those things our gods. We come in prayer, when we remember, with our “wish list” of what we want God to do for us.

Today, I’m asking that we all put that aside and just worship the One who gave us life and breath. As you listen or sing along with Garden Music, make these words your confession and anthem of praise!