The buzz around Cypress for the past couple of weeks has been, "What is IT?" And that's a good thing. We're all talking and wondering about this new thing we'll be discussing beginning this Sunday. Of course, I've kind of got an inside track on IT... at least what we'll be talking about. And I'm not sure that even with that advantage I can give you a brief "pithy" statement of what IT is.

Sometimes, though, I find that clarity can still come if you simply know what IT is not.

In this case that is true. I can tell you what IT is not.

IT is not hypocrisy. IT is not discipline. IT is not going through the motions. IT is not a feeling. IT cannot be taught. IT cannot be modeled. IT is not something that someone else can do for you. IT is, perhaps, the opposite of spiritual deadness. IT is not something that I had earlier this year.

I spent a lot of time earlier this year trying to find IT. I knew that some time before I had had IT. I couldn't tell you when or even where along the way I had lost IT, but, IT was definitely gone.

And, not for lack of trying to have IT. I was still doing my devotions daily. I was still coming to church, praying, in community, serving. I was doing all of the "right" things that I thought I was supposed to do to have IT.

One particular day, I found myself driving home from work exhausted and depleted. I longed to somewhere find the best version of me that my family would need and more than deserved when I got home. But I also knew that I couldn't "muster" it up on my own.

As a last resort, I prayed. I asked God if there was any way He could provide for me the strength I needed for the rest of my day and then I asked Him if I could somehow in the next couple of hours meet Him. I honestly don't even know where that prayer came from at the time. And I remember thinking it was a crazy prayer because I was going home to two little boys under 4 who would require my undivided attention. So, having a meaningful moment with God was simply going to have to wait for another time or season.

I got home to find both of my little guys sound asleep. Still no reprieve, though, for a late day spiritual retreat. I had laundry, dishes and dinner facing me. So I dug in and got started. Somewhere in the middle of my kitchen in slippers (my feet were killing me) and up to my elbows in a recipe, God showed up.

I know that probably sounds weird, but I kept being reminded of Psalm 23 that I had learned as a kid, only now I was realizing new things about it that I had never realized before. They were things that I needed to hear for that moment in my life. Things like how God has promised to lead us. There were several things facing me then in my personal life and in my work that really needed direction and being reminded of that promise took a huge weight off of me.

There were other things that I was reminded of that afternoon, but the thing that really blew me away was that God had answered my prayer. God had met me right there in the middle of my normalcy and my exhaustion. And He had provided encouragement and strength beyond what I had asked for. Right at that moment I knew that I had IT. I had just spent the afternoon in my kitchen with God and He had brought IT to me.

When I have IT, IT feels like everything is "running on all cylinders." I am a better version of myself. I am more confident, I am more loving, I am more humble, I am more fun, I am more kind, giving, genuine... but again IT is none of these things in and of themselves.

Looking back, my prayer should have been my first step, not my last resort.

So, I dare you.... sincerely ask God to show up and meet you where you are. I dare you!

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