Led By His Presence

Life Journal Entry: April 7, 2007
Scripture: Ex. 33:7-23

Ex. 33:7a says, "Moses took his tent and pitched it outside the camp, far from the camp..."

Moses separated himself from the rest of the people to meet with God. I have many friends and people I enjoy being around. I also like to attend Christian events and conferences and prayer meetings but it can be enticing to just camp with the people.
I want to be like Moses and get away from "the camp" if I have to so I can meet with God. I want His actual Presence like in Ex 33:9-11 where a "pillar of cloud descended and stood at the door of the tabernacle and the Lord talked with Moses." His manifest Presence has been on the forefront of my mind and I am starting to get an appetite for God's Presence.
In this day and in this country there are countless Christian activities and "things to do" in the Name of Jesus Christ. There are books written on almost every subject, conferences for prosperity, poverty, blessings, sacrifices, heeling's, youth, the prophetic, worship and on and on. There are teachings on podcasts available from all over the world; with just a click of the mouse we can download new sermons, worship songs, teachings, etc. There are modern day prophets with words of prosperity and also words of judgement. Our churches in the West our good at filling up our calenders with meetings, services, studies, classes, teachings, activities, events, ceremonies, concerts and the list goes on.
And personally since I became a Christian almost three years ago I have been a big fan of many of these Christian activities. But the Lord in His mercy has revealed to me, and then reminded me, that if my heart is not grounded and rooted with Him then these things have the potential to draw me away from my relationship with Him.
I'm not saying that these things are all bad, no most all of them are good. But like a quote I recently heard, "the greatest enemy of greatness is good enough" Or i suppose you could phrase it, " the greatest enemy of God's Presence is good Christian activity." I cannot speak for all Christians or anyone else for that matter but I can be honest and true about me.
I know that I have learned way more "about God" then I have actually got to "know Him." I have spent an extremely disproportionate amount of time reading books or the Bible then I have in just being with Him. I have been feeding off of second hand expressions, revelations, and knowledge of God. Instead of being like Moses who had one on one encounters with God, I have been a scavenger of stories and other people's experiences. Instead of seeing the smoke I have been experiencing second hand smoke, second hand glory. I have story after story of other people's testimonies but I want my own!
I believe God has allowed me to hear these things, to hear these stories so I would be hungry myself. He knows my desire and that I will never be content with just observation, with just sitting on the bench. I was created to play in the greatest game in the history of mankind, all for His glory.