CONFUSING MOTION AS PROGRESS

“Confusing Motion as Progress” was a phrase coined by A.W.Tozer. A very incisive term. As long as we are seen as doing something we must be all right. As long as we can produce an annual report which says that we did this or we did that then we must be all right. As long as we have ministries for this, that and the other group of people we must be all right.

Perhaps this mentality is why the church doesn’t prayer. After all, prayer doesn’t include motion, unless you are a Pentecostal and you pray very loudly in case God is deaf. If we are in motion, we can’t be “still and know that he is God”.

If we set aside two hours for prayer, people might think that we are not doing anything as we may not do anything when we prayer…except pray.

If we are in motion we won’t know what it is to experience “in quietness and confidence is your strength”.

To set aside time to pray mean to cease from our labours, to learn what God wants us to do.

“But God, we are not growing unless we are doing something.”

“But son, I don’t want you to do anything. I told you that my son Jesus would build the church. I didn’t say that you had to.”

“But that doesn’t make sense because motion is progress, isn’t it?”

“Listen to me son. The only thing that is progress is when I tell you to move. Until I do, you are wasting my time and yours.”

“So you just want me to sit on my backside and do nothing?”

No, you have missed the point. I want you to listen to what I have to say. In case you didn’t know, despite the havoc that Satan is causing, I have everything worked out. So the best thing that you can do is to sit and listen to what I am saying. I haven’t been able to talk to you for a long time because when you do actually stop your motion, all you do is talk. I can’t get a word in edgeways.”

“Despite what we have been led to believe, motion isn’t necessarily progress then?”

“If you learn nothing else my son, learn this one thing. Progress begins in my throne room. Until you enter in and let me talk to you, you might as well talk to a brick wall. I haven’t got time to listen to you because I am busy talking to those who are listening to me.”