I sat in the Upper Room.

It’s a building on the Heritage USA property (i’m not endorsing this website, just giving you one of many references for your information.) The Upper Room was built to resemble the original upper room in Jerusalem where Jesus and the disciples shared the Last Supper. The Heritage Upper Room was built to serve as a place of prayer. It was open 24-7 and there was always a staff person present and available to pray with people. Like many of the buildings on the property, this one has been in disrepair and disuse for years. In November, the building was purchased, significant cleaning and repairs are under way, and once again the space is being used for it’s original purpose: prayer.

When i saw the sign, “Sunday Night Worship, 6:30pm” i couldn’t resist. So there i sat in this historic room. It’s not big, but it was full. Perhaps i was reading into the story of the smiles on the people’s faces; many of them looked to me to be folks who had come here years ago to be part of the ministry on this land. I imagined what a moment of restoration, reunion, revival this was for them.

I must admit, the worship music style was not my preference. The songs were old. There was no big rock band; just a man playing a twelve-string acoustic guitar. But the worship was sweet and real. It’s hard to resist when waves of love are going up from God’s people into His heart. And so, i was caught up in it all.

Oftentimes, as i enter into worship, i must pass by the roadblocks of condemnation. I begin to sense God’s presence; i begin to enter and enjoy it, and then: accusation. “It’s been a long time since you’ve done this. You used to do this more. Now, you do this _____, and that _____. You used to read the bible and pray more. Now you _____…” I’m learning to pass these would-be roadblocks more quickly. They have no power; only the power they are given. Please allow me to digress for a moment:

it’s the great temptation: the thought that we can achieve. If we just DO this or KNOW that, then we will BE what and where we want to be. It’s the fruit from the tree. It’s the serpent’s special. It’s the same as it’s always been. If you are feeling worthy to approach God today because of your recent activities: STOP! Do not pass go. Do not collect $200. Go directly to the cross and crucify that crap. If you are feeling unworthy to approach God because of your recent behaviors or negligence: the answer is the same. He has made us worthy. Not because of anything we HAVE or HAVE NOT done. But, because of everything He is and everything He has done.

As i passed by the familiar roadblocks, God’s voice came to me and whispered in my heart. He explained that I only see myself in the present. He sees me in the past, the present and the future… (to be continued!)