Prayer, a Picture of Dependence

"P.T. Forsyth once said, 'The worst sin is prayerlessness.' Does this statement surprise us? We usually think of murder and adultery as among the worst offenses against God and humanity. But the root of all sin is self-sufficiency--independence from the rule of God. When we fail to wait prayerfully for God's guidance and strength, we are saying with our actions, if not with our words, that we do not need. Him. How much of our service is actually a 'going it alone'?" 

~ Charles E. Hummel

Tyranny of the Urgent

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If you understand the depravity of humankind, the thought that you are self-sufficient and can successfully walk through life alone is laughable. Until you realize that you often live as though you were sufficient, not prayerfully waiting upon and seeking the Lord.

Perhaps you have been there? You say that without Him you are nothing, you admit that there is no good in you, but you go about life, rarely stopping to speak with the Lord. You life is full, you are too busy. Any prayers are whispered on the run, and most often consist of "help me, help them, bless us" and little else.

What kind of relationship is that? You never stop to listen, never stop to have deep conversation. Isn't it hollow, empty? Doesn't it say that you do not need them/Him to exist? That you can "go it alone"?

I've been there. More times then I wish to count. Oh, thanks be to the God of mercy Who opens our eyes that we might see!

My prayer today, as we enter this holiday season, is that we will realize that the most important thing we can do, the most urgent thing, is to stop and spend time in prayer. He is the source of good, He is the One Who saves the lost, it is in Him alone that we have hope and that we can offer hope.

 

"Be Thou my strong habitation, where unto I may continually resort."

Psalm 71:3

I Asked the Lord

A friend recently shared this hymn with me. It is fast becoming a favorite.

 

 

 

I Asked the Lord

 

I asked the Lord that I might grow
In faith, and love, and every grace;
Might more of His salvation know,
And seek, more earnestly, His face.

 

’Twas He who taught me thus to pray,
And He, I trust, has answered prayer!
But it has been in such a way,
As almost drove me to despair.

 

I hoped that in some favored hour,
At once He’d answer my request;
And by His love’s constraining pow’r,
Subdue my sins, and give me rest.

 

Instead of this, He made me feel
The hidden evils of my heart;
And let the angry pow’rs of hell
Assault my soul in every part.

 

Yea more, with His own hand He seemed
Intent to aggravate my woe;
Crossed all the fair designs I schemed,
Blasted my gourds, and laid me low

 

Lord, why is this, I trembling cried,
Wilt thou pursue thy worm to death?
“’Tis in this way, the Lord replied,
I answer prayer for grace and faith.

 

These inward trials I employ,
From self, and pride, to set thee free;
And break thy schemes of earthly joy,
That thou may’st find thy all in Me.”

 

~John Newton

Jesus, Lift My Eyes

 

Jesus, I lift my eyes to the heavens
Where does my help come from
You, O my Lord
My heart has a thousand words to say
Please, Lord, turn burdens into praise
 

from "Jesus, Lift My Eyes" by the Pat Little Band

 

"Please, Lord, turn burdens into praise." Lord, not only the burdens of this life that sometimes threaten to overwhelm, but also the burden of having a thousands of words to say in worship of You and no way to express them all in this lifetime. You are my help, and when I lift my eyes to the heavens I am reminded of Your grace and faithfulness. Both of which I do not deserve, but still You lovely grant anyway. May Your praise ever be on my lips!

Something to Ponder

 

"With so many choices, it's no surprise that we are always thinking about the greener grass on the other side of the fence. We are always pondering what could be better or what might be nicer about something or someone new. 'Decide' comes from the Latin word decider, meaning 'to cut off,' which explains why decisions are so hard these days. We can't stand the thought of cutting off any of our options. If we choose A, we feel the sting of not having B and C and D. As a result, every choice feels worse than no choice at all. And when we do make an important choice, we end up with buyers' remorse, wondering if we are setting for second best. Or, worse yet, we end up living in our parents basement indefinitely as we try to find ourselves and hear God's voice. Our freedom to do anything and go anywhere ends up feeling like bondage more than liberty, because decision making feels like pain not pleasure."

 

~ Kevin DeYoung

Just Do Something p. 37

Rest?

"Do we never hear the question "What is the harm of it?" asked about reading certain books, following certain pursuits, taking our recreation in certain ways? Perhaps… we need change of thought and rest of brain. "What is the harm of the latest novel, even if it happens to be rather unprofitable?" And we (who have not time to read one out of a thousand of the real books that have been written) spend a precious hour by deliberate choice over something not worthwhile; and when our immediate world interrupts us, breaking in upon us with some call, do we find that we come back to it with quite undistracted gladness?" ~Amy Carmichael

When I read this quote I replaced  "real books" with "real book." With the Bible. How often when I "need" change of thought or rest of brain to I turn to things other than the Bible? Other than God.

 

 I read fiction, watch a movie, chat with friends, write in my journal. Those things aren't perhaps bad, but are they really the rest my soul desires?

I realize that I have been building a habit of turning my brain off, of avoiding the things which trouble me instead of taking them to God. Instead of seeking His Word. True rest is in trusting Him with the unseen, not running from it.

 

I give thanks to the God of grace who is continually working to conform me into His likeness!

 

The Greatest Gift

 

"If we have the slightest clue about being bought by the blood of Jesus, we won't see how much we can get away with. We'll see how much we can honor Him. True, there is not a sin that you or I could muster up that would make God say, 'I don't love you anymore.' But that doesn't mean we have the right to take His grace for granted." ~ David Nasser


If we know what a sacrifice was made for us by Jesus, if we grasped how much He gave of Himself for us, then we could not help but to live every moment of every day in a way that honors and pleases Him. Think of it like this, if someone nearly died saving your child (or insert your mother, father, or dearest loved one's name here) from a raging fire, would you not be grateful to that person and show them gratitude? Would you not do whatever was in your power to show them that you valued their willingness to, if need be, sacrifice their very life trying to save the one you love with all your heart?

Well, Jesus did that. He died to save your loved one from a fire bigger and hotter than any forest fire. He also died to save you from the same fate. And would you dare to be anything but grateful for that sacrifice? Should you not live a life of gratitude? Should you not do your best to honor Him? Yes, we will all fail, we will all sin, we will never be perfect on this earth. I get that. But, shouldn't we seek everyday to live in a way that says "thank you" for the great sacrifice of the cross instead of pushing limits to see how much we can "get away with"? 

If we really understand grace, and the price of the gift given to us by our Heavenly Father through His only Son, we can't take it for granted.

Priorities

"As a leader, you can remain available to mentor others. This means you may get less done in the present, but you will actually accomplish far more in the future by pouring your life into the people who can carry on those things that are nearest and dearest to your heart."

 

~ The Ascent of a Leader

Sometimes as I juggle life's many roles, I get so focused on my plans that I began to shove relationships aside. I close all the doors and make myself unavailable to others so that I can check each item off my lengthy to-do list without interruption. Have you ever found yourself doing that?

 

When I came across these words yesterday, I stopped. My eyes grew a little wider as I realized that the picture the authors had painted was just what I wanted to be, but just what I was furthest from being.

 

So what if I completed all the items on my forever growing lists of things to do? In the end, what would it all amount to? If I had not taken time to invest in the lives of others, teaching them and helping them grow so that they are able to carry on with those things that are nearest and dearest to my heart, then have I not failed?

 

I will not live forever. Not even close. At the end of my race, when I am drawing my last breath. When I look back over life, will I see nothing but the doors I slammed in the faces of those seeking my assistance, or will I see the flourishing and vibrant trees that have sprung from the investments I was willing to make...sometimes at the cost of my own personal goals?

 

What can I do to be more available to others? What might I have to give up for the present time? Am I pouring my life into others in such a way that they may better carry out those purposes ,are not only the nearest and dearest to my heart, but also to the Lord's?

 

 

Sanctification

One of my favorite bloggers, recently posted this quote in her article "Guilty As Charged."

"In our sufferings, we need to be more concerned about our duty than our deliverance. We should seriously consider what it is that God desires in our present dispensation. There is no condition or trial in the world but we have the opportunity to exercise some special grace or duty. To desire deliverance alone is self-love and quite natural to man. In affliction man seeks to be delivered and released from his burden. Men make more haste to get their afflictions removed than to be sanctified in them...Let us search and try our ways, Let us consider that the present condition is best for us, and learn in whatever state we are, to be content (Phil. 4:11). Let us rejoice in tribulation (Rom. 5:3) Let us lift up Jesus Christ and make Him glorious by our afflictions. Paul studied more how to adorn the cross than how to avoid it. If he must suffer for Christ, O that Christ might not suffer by him! May Christ be exalted, and let us entrust our souls to a faithful Creator (1 Peter 4:19)." Thomas Chase, Select Works, A Treatise of Afflictions, pp. 65-67

 

"Men make more haste to get their afflictions removed than to be sanctified in them..." How true this is. Recently in talking with a dear friend I was reminded of this very thing. How often have I wished for the trials in life to just be gone. How much easier it is to pray that God will set us free from our afflictions rather than to sanctify us through them. My friend has challenged me to not pray, "Lord, lift this burden," but instead to pray, "Lord, make me broken before You if in my brokenness I may be sanctified and You glorified." When you are in the midst of some hardship that is the last thing you wish to pray for from a selfish and human perspective isn't it? But when you look at life as means of glorifying the Lord, and if that means be sanctified through pain, then would you not pray it?

Not so man may see,

But that I may be

Fully surrendared to You

In everything You call me to do

Humbled and broken

That Your glory be spoken

In word in action for all to see

Lord, be glorified in me.

                                                                                          ~Kathryn

Ouch!

"Those of us who are single face a danger of becoming self-absorbed. Free from the constraints of family life, it is all too easy to become preoccupied with fulfilling our own social needs or consumed with our jobs or with making money. Now there's certainly nothing wrong with having friends or careers or making a living, but God is concerned about the heart motives of His children. Rather than devoting their lives to furthering the Kingdom of Christ, many Christian singles have been caught in the trap of self-seeking and self-fulfillment." ~ Nancy Leigh DeMoss


Reading this was one of those "ouch" moments. It gave me food for thought and prayer. What are my heart motives and what are some things that I may need to change?

Day 23 - The Lord Rejoices Over You!

"The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing" (Zephaniah 3:17).

The Lord rejoices over me with gladness, knowing what I am. I stand in silence. In awe of such great love!

"Silence is not a gap to be filled. It is the greatest of all preparations, and the climax of all adoration." ~ Anonymous

Day 1

I could tell a long tale, relating all the events that have lead me to this day, but if I were to do that it would surely require such a long post that I would loose your interest before I was even half-way done. To summarize it, I was brought short by the fact that though I claim that my relationship with God is the most important one in my life, I do not act as if it is. If someone is important to you, you schedule time to spend alone with them. Your actions will verify that what you say is true. My actions have not been telling God that He is the most important being in my life, so I am setting out on a mission to show Him by my actions that I want my words to be true and that I want Him to always be the most important aspect of my life.

Today is Day 1 of 40. In the next 40 days I am committing to give God the first part of every morning. My plans include studying His Word, devotional reading, prayer, and scripture memory. I already can tell it will not be easy. In fact, a part of me was half-way regretting this choice when my alarm clock went off this morning. That is the half of myself that I am out to overcome. Each day I intend to record something that stood out to me about my time with my Father and share it with you for two reasons. One, I need accountability. Two, perhaps something that God is using to encourage me might also encourage you.

I covet your prayers during the next 39 days as I seek to "know Him more." It will not be easy, but by the grace of the Lord, and in His strength I walk forward.


Day 1: August 29

"Let your gentleness (graciousness or forbearance) be known to all men The Lord is at hand."

Philippians 4:5

O Beloved of my soul,

This do I desire:

Faith for the impossible,

Love that will not tire.

Jesus, Saviour, Lover, give me

Love for the unlovable,

Love that will not tire.

O Beloved of my soul,

Yet again I come;

Give me cords of love to draw

Many wanderers home.

Jesus, Saviour, Lover, give me

Love that knows nor strain nor flaw,

Love to lead them home.

~Amy Carmichael

As I was reading God's Word this morning I was cross referencing some verses and was lead to Philippians 4:5. Right away I knew I would claim the verse as my special help for today. Later as I was reading through my devotional book by Amy Carmichael, Edges of His Ways, I read the poem above. I began to pray, Lord let my gentleness be known. Let me be gracious and forbearing. May others see You in me. Let them see the "Love that knows no strain nor flaw" let them see the Love that will "lead them home."

If you have done or are doing a 40-day journey to know God more, I would love to hear from you!

Witnessing, Let's Do It!

"Witnessing is not some hocus-pocus thing. It's simply showing up in life every day, expressing what God has done for us, how He's met us along the way, and how He can do the same for the person with whom we're sharing."

~ Lucy Swendoll

Often times when we think about witnessing we feel that we cannot do it. It is too hard, we do not have the right words to say, etc. That is why I found this quote so refreshing. God does not expect me to have all the answers! Yes, witnessing can be challenging, but it is a good kind of hard. The stretching kind. How are we showing up in every day life? How are we shining for Christ in what we do and in what we say? How has He met us today? How have we been blessed? And most importantly, what are some ways that we can share what He has done for us, how faithful He is, with those around us?

Grace

When God gets a grip on our lives, nothing is left untouched.

That is what makes His grace dangerous. It unsettles

our preconceived ideas, uproots our ingrained habits,

redirects our security- but He is never "safe." He is determined

to make us the very best we can be, and He will never let us

rest comfortably in our weaknesses and sins. He works

ceaselessly to remake us into the image and character of Christ.

~Nancy R. Pearcey

Introduction to A Dangerous Grace by Charles Colson

In Bethlehem That Night

"She brought forth her firstborn son,

and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid

him in a manger; because there

was no room for them in the inn" (Luke 2:7).

All for Him

"These are not days for the church to turn inward,

curl up in a corner and passively await the end.

The world has yet to see what the Spirit can do."

Howard A. Snyder

THE WORLD NEEDS MEN (AND WOMEN)...

who cannot be bought;
whose word is their bond;
who put character above wealth;
who possess opinions and a will;
who are larger than their vocations;
who do not hesitate to take chances;
who will not lose their individuality in a crowd;
who will be as honest in small things as in great things;
who will make no compromise with wrong;
whose ambitions are not confined to their own selfish desires;
who will not say they do it "because everybody else does it;"
who are true to their friends through good report and evil
report, in adversity as well as in prosperity;
who do not believe that shrewdness, cunning, and
hardheadedness are the best qualities for winning success;
who are not ashamed or afraid to stand for the truth when it is unpopular;
who can say "no" with emphasis, although all the rest of the world says "yes."

-Taken from The Making of
a Christian Leader by
Ted W. Engstrom

A Key to Life

"Life has a way of giving us a new normal just when

we thought we had things figured out.

The key to life isn't looking for a safe sameness with every

passing season. It's learning to enjoy

the ride, whatever the next turn in the road might bring.

Believing that God's driving, and He'll

get us home safely- however bumpy the trip."

~Karen Kingsbury

Take Two

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy;
Love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;
Does not behave rudely, does not seek its own,
Is not provoked, thinks no evil:
Does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;
Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things,
Endures all things. Love never fails.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8