Sometimes in the desert of life, we run from the narrow path leading towards God to chase mirages that we believe will quench our thirst. Other times, though, we try too hard, thinking that we can find our way out of the desert through our own determination. When I was a teenager, some friends and I started all-night prayer meetings each Friday. We listened to sermons by visiting preachers. We rededicated our lives to Jesus. We served, and prayed, and read the Bible. We just about killed ourselves, we were so eager to be holy. My times of study and prayer and work became a cycle of grim determination, and the results never changed much.

I was on the verge of giving up – not because I saw any lack in God, but because I was weary of struggling and seeking to persevere through grim determination. Finally, I saw a film of Dr. Billy Graham preaching from Ephesians 5:18. Dr. Graham seemed to be looking at me and asking: “Are you filled with the Holy Spirit?” I wasn’t! I was trying to do everything out of my own power. Prayer, service, and Bible reading are important, but we don’t do these things because they are required. We do them so we can live with more joy!

So, in desert times, look for the Holy Spirit’s movement, and invite others to encounter that Spirit with you. It’s the surefire way to be refreshed and ready to continue reaching your world for Christ. 

This is Luis Palau.