what's moving you?

as everyone gets home from the church event this weekend i can only imagine the spiritual high they must be on. a weekend full of God, worship, intense bible studies, a great speaker, and wonderful fellowship. the unbelievable power of God that filled up your heart and the hearts of others. but, ask yourself...

are you being moved by the event or by God?

as a christian, i think this is the question we need to keep in the front of our minds and hearts during christian events. i have been to christian events before where there was so much passion and emotion during the worship, the teachings and in the small groups. it really felt like God was moving. and I am sure He was. but, are you really being moved by Him? i have seen so many people leave school on friday afternoon as one person, show up at the event as another person, and go back to school on monday just the same as they were on friday. they kneeled down in prayer, cried out to God, raised their hands during worship... it would seem as though God had moved that person. 

but i would like you to consider something. i believe it is so easy to get wrapped up in the emotion of a church event. isn't it? you hear a new speaker, you have an intense worship service, you see people crying, you have great prayers... but is it really life changing? i will say that most of the time it is not... i will go even further to say, usually people are not truly changed at events like that at all. the fact is it is only temporary. you are being moved by the event, not by God. 

i do believe that God is present and moving... i believe that He can use those events to plant an idea in people's hearts about who He is and what it is all about. but i think the event is structurally flawed. it is made to be a place to get filled up and get a spiritual high lasting only as long as that weekend. we say we change... the leaders pray that we will... but it doesn't happen. it is temporary. the leaders and students create a place, teachings, and worship in order to change lives. it is based  on emotions. and when it is based on emotions is it not a real heart change. a real heart change is life changing-- it happens when you change not based on how you are feeling or what others are feeling, but you change because of the overwhelming sense to be who God wants you to be and live a life that gives glory to Him. a heart change is not an experience. it is vital to who you are, who you are becoming, and who God is. 

so as you return back to normal life this afternoon, ask yourself that question. reflect on what you have learned and apply it to your life. be careful not to allow Satan to get your emotions confused with a heart change. it can be a dangerous trap that robs God of the glory He deserves and does not allow you to have a full intimate relationship with Him.