John 16:13 (ESV)
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

The other day I was in Home Depot when I came across a visually impaired man and his beautiful Labrador guide dog. This sight, although now common, never ceases to amaze and remind me of the above text.

In my life as a follower of Christ, my desire is to grow. Yet growth can’t really take place until two things happen. First, I must be truthful with where I am at. Second, I must then be led from that place to a new place I have never been.

Over the past year, I had a desire to honour God with my entire life, which included my lifestyle. While my weight has remained constant over the years, the fact is that I was terribly out of shape. In fact, discipline was an issue for me. Not in all areas, but in crucial ones. It was something that I knew God was speaking to me about on a daily basis. For months I resisted His leading. Fear of failure, trust, compromise – you name it, I played it. Firmly God persisted in speaking to me. Then one day I decided to take a step and do something about it. I did something I hadn’t done in years. I hopped on a bicycle and went for a ride. As I did, I would breathe in deeply, pray, and simply learn to enjoy God’s presence.

One thing lead to another, one step lead to more steps. Since June of 2009 He has been firmly leading and guiding, and growing me in the area of personal disciplines.

I am not where I was, but I am where I desire to be: trusting the leadership of the Holy Spirit. He guides me into all truth about my life, but more importantly Himself.

It is a remarkable thing to be completely blind, yet fully trusting in the leadership of another.

In many ways, this too is the reality of our growing in God.

Where do you need to embrace truth and trust his guiding your steps?

Today’s Blog Was Written By Jason Boucher

I remember very early in ministry where, I didn’t know it at the time, but God was leading me through a wilderness. I have had the opportunity to be around some great youth pastors, and early in my ministry I thought that if I could just be like so and so, preach like them, act like them, then that would make me a great youth pastor. As I went down that road, it seemed things just got more and more difficult in ministry. I finally got to this place where I thought it was over, I felt alone and like I wanted to give up. It was right at that moment that God spoke to me. I wasn’t alone, but God needed to get me to this place where I would listen. He showed me that I needed to be me, not try to be anyone else. I am so thankful for that wilderness experience because it has truly made me who I am today!

Today’s Blog Was Written By Rob McKee

Last year was a wilderness experience for me. My husband had started a new job that was very demanding and he was out most evenings, I was working full time in ministry and the weight and pull of running a home, my two children and ministry began to bring me to the end of myself quite quickly. I was relying on my own strength and trying to make it on my own. I wanted to be strong for Jason and the kids and lead the ministry well, so I did not want to ask for help or show weakness. God allowed this wilderness experience so that I would see my desperate need for Him and so that I would make sure to set intentional times for refreshing my spiritual and emotional tank. I did not give myself permission to rest because I felt that there was always something that had to be done immediately in my work or family life. This was unhealthy, and God quickly and gracefully revealed my independence that was harming me, and taught and is continuing to teach me co-dependence on Him. I am so grateful for the season I went through. I do not want to repeat last year, but feel that the lesson I learned will guard me from much grief stress and strife in the future as I put it into practice.

Have you been through a wilderness time and what have you learned through that season?

Today’s Blog Was Written By Rhonda Courteau

Years ago we had a very well known speaker come to the church, and in one of his sessions he spoke of a wilderness time God had taken him through. As I listened, I thought he was crazy. I had been a follower of Christ my whole life and had my share of ups and downs, but never like he had described. He talked about how much he learned in his wilderness season and how much he loved it; again, I thought he was crazy. Who would love being in the wilderness other then “Surviorman”? Then I had the privilege, yes the privilege, of experiencing my own wilderness season. A season where Christ wanted to strip me of all that I thought I was and teach me a new way of being. Isn’t that the definition of wilderness? In the wilderness you learn things about yourself and a new way to live.

That season was months of exhaustion, tears, anger, confusion, unsettledness and ultimately full surrender. The only thing I did during this season was devour the Word and journal. As my strength and health began to re-balance, I was able to see that, although what got me to this point was my stupidity, what got me through it was God’s amazing grace. The lessons I learned and the surrendered dependence I submitted to during this season have enabled me to know Him in a way I could have never known, had I not gone through it. If we use every situation, no matter how difficult, as an opportunity to allow Him to lead…….He will.

Today’s Blog Was Written By Kimberly Sabourin

There are seasons in our relationship with Jesus that are exciting and full of life. You feel a sense of momentum and victory and it drives you to dig into God’s word and listen for His voice. Every time you read the Bible it speaks to you personally. You feel like you are growing and you are confident in your faith. These seasons are a treasure and should be lived out to the fullest measure.

There are other seasons that are dry and challenging. You are facing difficulties in every direction. You lack motivation or even the desire to grow or learn. You feel defeated and weak and often very alone. Wilderness seasons can often feel like that.

What is important to know is that God never changes. He is no more with you on the mountain tops, the good times than he is in the wilderness. In fact often His provision is very real and tangible in the wilderness, yet we are not able to see it.

When I am in a wilderness, I must remember not to let my feelings dictate my actions. Just because I don’t feel like getting out of bed in the morning doesn’t mean that I don’t get out of bed in the morning. Just because I feel like I am not getting anything out of my Bible reading doesn’t mean I stop reading the Bible. Just because I would rather stay home than go to my Lifegroup doesn’t mean I stay home.

Wilderness seasons call for more reliance on God because nothing is easy. But it’s important to remember that it’s just a season and it too shall pass. His mercies are new every morning.

Today’s Blog Was Written By Lori Boucher

There have been a number of wilderness experiences in my thirty year journey with Jesus, as you can imagine. I remember many, but have chosen one in particular. It was after I had said “yes” to leave working in the government to work within a local ministry. I had only been in my new position for six months when I was called into the office and told that the ministry was laying off staff due to financial difficulties. Now what? I couldn’t go back to my old job. Had I made a mistake and missed God or was He up to something? I never asked the ‘why’ question because that only leads to more frustration. I have learned to ask the ‘what’ question. Lord, what do I do with this situation? He spoke to me about my need to know Him as Provider in all circumstances. Over the next few months He provided, through ordinary people, money, groceries, gifts and a new job in a higher paying position than I had previously. All this was in preparation for Him calling me back to ministry eighteen months later with a new appreciation that He alone is my Jehovah Jireh – my provider.

Today’s Blog Was Written By Barry Boucher

Matthew 4:1 (ESV)
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

Did we read that right?
Jesus was led…up by the Spirit…into the wilderness?

My wife Lori loves watching Survivor. She love it so much that she even gets on twitter to connect with other fans around the world while watching the show together. Me? Take it or leave it. During hockey season I am usually watching a Sens game around the same time. Somehow I find myself watching the last few episodes with her each season. What I am always struck with is the contestant’s revelation, not about others, but themselves. Essentially, being placed in the wilderness, with nothing, revealed how strong… or weak they were. There are always those who are proud, and those disappointed in how they handled being removed from all creature comforts, while having to live off the land.

Interesting.

There is something about the wilderness that has always been a place of testing. In my life, when God leads me in and ultimately through wilderness experiences, I am always changed. These times are revealing times.

Sometimes they highlight my…faith in God.
Sometimes they highlight my…fight to do things my way.

Yet make no mistake – the wilderness always reveals both who God is, and where I am really at in my life.

The wilderness, while unpleasant, is an invaluable time in our lives.

Which is why Jesus, being fully God and man, could be led…up by the Spirit…into the wilderness.

He is tested.
You will be tested.

He is victorious.
So too, in Him, can you be victorious.

Next time you find yourself in a wilderness, be careful not to rebuke it too quickly. Because while the enemy may indeed bring temptation your way, it probably wasn’t his leading that brought you there.

Today’s Blog Was Written By Jason Boucher

I have to say that the biggest impact for me is a fresh look at the scriptures. I can honestly say I have fallen more in love with God’s Word to kick off this year. Scriptures that I have read over hundreds of times have just jumped off the page in a new way. It has ignited a fresh passion and desire to consume all that I can when it comes to God’s Word. My daily routine includes reading the Word of God, then ending the day by slipping on my headphones and listening to the Word on my iPod. It’s the book on my night stand and the play list on my iPod.

Today’s Blog Was Written By Rob McKee

Obedience. Some fasts I have felt myself changing during the fast from the inside out and it has been an incredible experience and time of breakthrough in my life. Other times, like this fast, I have not felt anything change but know, in faith, that I am changing and that God is doing something deep inside of me. This fast has been a fast of obedience. I know that God has asked me to fast and that requires obedience. When we obey we don’t always see results immediately but, over time, it is amazing the results that come out of our obedience. Obedience is honouring God and following Him because He asks us to listen and respond to Him. It is an honour to obey, and having Him ask me to follow Him is a gift in itself.
How has this fast impacted your life?

Today’s Blog Was Written By Rhonda Courteau

I love to fast, really I do. I have been practicing this discipline in my life for as far back as I can remember. When I was a child, every Friday, in anticipation of the weekly service Lifecentre hosted, my parents would fast. As a child, I just adopted this practice very naturally.

The reason I love to fast is that I feel as though I have an open heaven over my life. Fasting always brings different challenges and different experiences, but I feel so tuned into the Lord when I set myself apart to fast. As 2009 came to a close and 2010 was inching upon us, I felt the Lord ask me if I was ready for an adventure. Being a first-born female and type A perfectionist who is known to plan her wardrobe a month in advance, adventure is not really in my vocabulary. Planned adventure? Absolutely! But just plain adventure? That’s wild! I entered the fast ready to allow God to stretch me, conform me and change me into the woman He needs me to be to accomplish His will in 2010. That means adventure! As I read the passages I saw the adventure on which God had taken so many before me, and it all started with obedience. Although 2010 has just begun, I am already experiencing some great adventures, and yet I feel at tremendous peace knowing that I am right in the center of His will. There is no greater adventure then that!

Today’s Blog Was Written By Kimberly Sabourin