Pastor Wayne's World
I read an interesting book titled In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day: How to Survive and Thrive when Opportunity Roars by Mark Batterson. I have to be honest with you-- I started reading the book because the title intrigued me, especially the first part In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day. I’ve done a lot of things in my life, but I’ve never been in a pit with a lion on a snowy day …until I read Chapter 1.
This book is based on a story found in 2 Samuel 23:20. It’s about the valiant warrior Benaiah, who “went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion” (2 Samuel 23:20 NIV). Mark Batterson likens the lion to our fears, our problems, anything that keeps us from truly worshiping God. Mark tells us, like Benaiah, we need to become valiant warriors and pursue our fears, issues, problems and destroy them, by giving them up to God.
I realized early in the book that in my own life, I have spent many days, months, and even years fleeing from the lions in my life and letting them influence me rather than giving “the lions” to God and letting Him guide and direct. Has this happened to you?
What causes us to stop running? When we run out of room to flee, when we are on the edge of the cliff where there is nowhere to run, we have to make a choice. We can jump, or we can stay in place and let the lion devour us-- either way the lion wins! Or, we can stop running and turn around and fight! I chose to fight, to invoke the power of the saving grace of Jesus Christ! I chased the lion into the snowy pit and with Jesus by my side we defeated the lion, climbed out of the pit and celebrated with tears of joy.
Mark Batterson in his book says this, “Some of your experiences won’t make sense this side of eternity, but lion chasers know that God is connecting the dots in ways they can’t comprehend. Lion chasers are humble enough to let God call the shots and brave enough to follow where he leads.”
What are your lions? Are you in the pit? Are you standing on the edge of the cliff? Why not go to Jesus on your knees right now, give Him your issues-- your lions-- and together we can be a church of lion chasers!
Blessings!
Pastor Wayne
aka Lion Chaser
This book is based on a story found in 2 Samuel 23:20. It’s about the valiant warrior Benaiah, who “went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion” (2 Samuel 23:20 NIV). Mark Batterson likens the lion to our fears, our problems, anything that keeps us from truly worshiping God. Mark tells us, like Benaiah, we need to become valiant warriors and pursue our fears, issues, problems and destroy them, by giving them up to God.
I realized early in the book that in my own life, I have spent many days, months, and even years fleeing from the lions in my life and letting them influence me rather than giving “the lions” to God and letting Him guide and direct. Has this happened to you?
What causes us to stop running? When we run out of room to flee, when we are on the edge of the cliff where there is nowhere to run, we have to make a choice. We can jump, or we can stay in place and let the lion devour us-- either way the lion wins! Or, we can stop running and turn around and fight! I chose to fight, to invoke the power of the saving grace of Jesus Christ! I chased the lion into the snowy pit and with Jesus by my side we defeated the lion, climbed out of the pit and celebrated with tears of joy.
Mark Batterson in his book says this, “Some of your experiences won’t make sense this side of eternity, but lion chasers know that God is connecting the dots in ways they can’t comprehend. Lion chasers are humble enough to let God call the shots and brave enough to follow where he leads.”
What are your lions? Are you in the pit? Are you standing on the edge of the cliff? Why not go to Jesus on your knees right now, give Him your issues-- your lions-- and together we can be a church of lion chasers!
Blessings!
Pastor Wayne
aka Lion Chaser