“What Do You Do at the Foot of the Cross?”
If we were all completely honest we would admit that at the foot of the cross we sometimes spend more time “wailing and lashing” than “shutting up and listening.” We finally get driven to the foot of the cross to do business with our Father which in most cases should have done much earlier. You see “our busyness” keeps us from “His business” much of the time. So we get there and instead of “laying our burdens down at the foot of the cross” we have a tendency to rehearse the problem to God (as if He needed this news scoop) and then when the tears have come we emote on the problem in our mind over and over. After some period of time, usually after our mascara has washed away and we feel the need for new Kleenex to blow our noses, we get up, head to the bathroom and are quite proud of our prayer time. Warning to men readers: don’t quit reading. Although men may not have a women’s emotional makeup the scriptural principles certainly cross genders. Let’s get back to the cross. I know I’ve had a lot of pity parties at the foot of the cross instead of times of intimacy with The Almighty. How do you know the difference? The simple one word answer for knowing you’ve been in His presence at the foot of the cross is “PEACE.” Any emotion the opposite of peace, and obviously there are too many to list, shows that you didn’t make it into His presence. His presence is peace. “For He Himself is your peace.” (Ephesians 2:14) The foot of the cross we talk and sing about is the “Holy of Holies” in the order of prayer. Remember that effective prayer has an exact order. We don’t just stroll in there casually. We enter His presence clean as snow and with fear and trembling. The cross is where we learn to shut-up. The cross is where we learn to listen. The cross is where He applies the His blood and His grace and His supernatural provision to our lives and we are changed. We are ALWAYS changed in His presence. Remember the examples in the Bible when people were literally physically in His presence-they were physically changed as evidenced by a “holy glow” for a period of time. We can never enter His presence and not be changed. He is in the transformation business. Our job is to get to Him over and over and over. With all that is in us to make it to that place of transformation, of healing, of immunity, of intimacy, that must be our first priority. Our job is to keep seeking Him; He’ll do the rest. “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33). “You will find Me when you seek me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).
Because of the life-changing power at the foot of the cross the enemy of your soul will do all that he can to keep you from that place. When you need The Father the most, Satan will put “deadly substitutes” right slap dab in the middle of your path. If you are unaware of his schemes you’ll listen to the substitute voices. It’s a hard pill to swallow but the enemy can and does masquerade as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14). NEVER confer with flesh and blood before you do business with The Father. Your answer and blessing can easily get snatched. Opinions of man can prove deadly because they kill your getting to the cross, to the “Holy of Holies”, into His changing presence. The voices of man may go down smooth and taste good but they are as lethal as any poison pulled from under your kitchen counter. Just how many of your friends will really give you God’s perfect answer. How could they possibly begin to know unless they have spent much time in prayer and His presence on your behalf? Are you changed in their presence? Do you have that “peace that surpasses all understanding” (Phil 4:7) after you get up from being with them? Oh yes, come to the place that you realize that the deadliest substitutes in your life are not for the wicked things of this world but can be listening to and depending upon the “good advice” of well meaning family and friends. The “good” is always the enemy of the “best”. Am I saying that you don’t seek wise counsel-absolutely not. The Bible states over and over wisdom gained from many counselors BUT the key is the order. You go to the cross FIRST and friends for confirmation if needed secondly. And it should go without saying that the “friend” better be sold out to Jesus and listening to Him before you share your situation at all. If not, trust me, you’ll be conferring with the enemy sent to get you out of God’s will. Your destiny is His will found only at the foot of the cross and Satan’s job is to pull you from it and he will use anyone to do this. This is why we pray for more and more discernment as we grow.
So in closing let us all reevaluate what we do at the foot of the cross. Let us remember to go there first, early and often. Let us learn to lose our busyness and do all our business there. Let us learn to shut-up at the cross and just listen. Let us “be still” (Psalm 46:10) there and be changed in His Holy presence. I promise that your peace will be like a river. At the cross you are in for the ride of your life. Don’t miss it. He’s waiting for you.
Ann Allen Salter
July 24, 2008
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