How do you stay in the zone? How do you always remain close to God? Can anybody ever really be there all the time?
Those are the questions that I’ve been asking for the last few weeks as I’ve been studying in the Old Testament. I’m into 2 Chronicles now and I’ve seen dozens of examples of people being in the zone, near the zone, falling out of the zone and never, ever being close to the zone. Here’s the cool thing about the Bible: It never pretends to make an individual something that they’re not. We read stories of how great Moses was. How David was a man after God’s own heart. How Elijah was taken directly to heaven. Asa, Jehoshaphat, Aaron, Joshua, Job… and the list goes on. All great but every one of them fell out of the zone at some point. Why?
Because they’re all human. Not one of them was perfect and the Bible is careful to remind us of that. Every person in the Bible, excepting Jesus, was flawed and I believe that’s something not to be missed in all this. Elijah’s a great example. After an incredible experience, where he saw God’s awesome power in action, Elijah fell out of the zone. Then what happened? God gave him REST and the opportunity to RESET. Don’t miss that. Elijah fell. God picked him up. Then it was up to Elijah what to do next and we see this great man of God get right back into the zone.
Here’s the deal: You will fall out of the zone. It’s gonna happen. How you deal with it, though, determines how long you’ll be out of the zone. Remember what Moses said to the people of Israel right before they were set to enter the Promised Land? ”Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children’s children.” (Deuteronomy 4:9)
How do you stay in the zone? Keep your soul diligently…….. lest you forget. Take time to pray and to read God’s word. Will it keep you perfect? No but it will provide you the key to getting back into the zone.
