7 Days of Breakthrough PrayerSample

A Deeper Foundation

“You can only go as far for God as you have time with God.” —Jim Maxim

I was in downtown Pittsburgh one afternoon sitting at a red light and, as I looked over to my left, I saw a large construction site being developed. The men were wearing their work belts, carrying different pieces of building materials, and very intently focusing on getting their jobs done. The architects had their drawings spread out as they reviewed plans with the foreman. The cement trucks were all lined up on the street ready to pour the foundation. I was wondering where they were going to start pouring when I saw it—a giant hole.

I wondered how deep it was. I sat up in my seat as tall as I could to see the bottom of the hole. I was amazed at how far down it went. At that moment, I felt the Holy Spirit gently moving in my heart and speaking softly to me: Jim, you can go with God only as far as you have time with God. The greater the size of the building, the deeper its foundation must be. Immediately, I understood what He was saying. I could see my life in front of me; I could see the desire Cathy and I had to walk with God, to bring Him glory, and to build His church in whatever way He chose with us. He was gently reminding me that the higher we desired to build in His name, the deeper we had to go in our relationship with Him. 

I thought of all the Christian men and women of God I had read about, those who were used by God generations ago and those being used by Him today to build His kingdom. I could see the one common denominator: unlike so many others, they understood that their first priority was to be with Him.

“You can go with God only as far as you have time with Him. There are no shortcuts for anyone and there never will be.” Our spirit man, the real us, must be in God’s presence continually, because that’s where we are fed and watered. There we minister to Him and He changes us. Remember, the very first thing God our Father did after accepting the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross was to tear the veil that separated mankind from walking into the Holy of Holies. Before that day, only the high priest could enter God’s presence. Now it is open to everyone who believes in the Lord Jesus Christ and is saved. Our greatest privilege is to be with God.

I knew that God was waiting for me to discipline myself to spend more time with Him. I knew that His desire was to show me more of Himself and the true power of prayer. I knew that He was offering me what He has for all His children, a deeper life with Him. He was waiting for my response. It wasn’t long after this that God’s blessing exploded in so many areas of our lives. It was as if this secret, “the secret place,” was no longer a secret to us. Prayer had become the reality God had intended all along. 

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