Seeking Supplied - Week 18

Last week I wrote about some things I was praying for. It was more of a written prayer than anything else. I was asking Jesus to give me an undeniable experience and make me sensitive to His involvement in our lives. I asked Him to make me thankful for the simple and gift me with excitement  Over the past 7 days I got to drive across America, visiting 14 beautiful states. I saw remarkable landscapes full of color, went to places I had never been before, and met people who fulfilled the asking of my prayers. Taking in the majesty of it all, I can’t help but end this trip (and every evening) with a Hallelujah! Praise the good Lord for He is allowing me to grow in Him as He grows in me.

I spent a lot of time in prayer this week but I wouldn’t say it was for anything really specific. I didn’t dedicate any certain times to pray or write one letter this week, but I do think there was a steady stream of conversation. I talked to God about the majority of my thoughts, trying to give Him anything that came to mind. My prayers centered around adoring God for the love that He is along with the many things He was allowing me to see. I got to rest in the goodness of the King and be witness to the unbelievable gifts He has given us in design. There was no doubt that Jesus was on this trip with me and all the while He was answering prayers. Last week I asked God to set me on fire and this week He did just that.

Driving through the desert, somewhere in New Mexico, I saw a road sign that shared a name with someone I know. I had seen these signs along the trip at least a dozen times, thinking nothing of it. However, when I saw it this time, I felt weird. I had this feeling that seemed like curiosity, a feeling like wonder. It was a feeling that made me hear… pray! As I started to pray for this person, the Holy Spirit ran wild in me. He made me pick up my phone, text this person, and gave me the words to say. I didn’t think about what I was typing out, it all moved so fast. Energy swelled inside of my body and before I knew it my fingers had hit send on a prayer that must have been said by the Lord Himself. It was quite the rush. An overwhelming sensation, almost like a roller-coaster or jumping out of an airplane. An indescribable, fantastic feeling! A feeling of fire but a quick feeling.

If that’s not enough to praise about this week, God also gave me requested excitement about the mundane. While there was a lot of pleasure in the places I went and the things I did, the devil tried his best to get in the way. I was blessed in being aware of the intricate involvement our Creator has in this life, but I also saw how clear the force is trying to stop it. There were moments the country drive got quite flat (pun intended) and the company became a little tense. Though some unfortunate strain fell on the car ride west, Jesus gave me the ability to play regardless. He allowed me to see the redundant lands as unique pieces of art, provided me with joy, and allowed me to have some fun. He helped me keep a positive attitude and maintain my enjoyment. For this I praise His name!

Last but not least, I asked God to lead me to an encounter that was undeniable. I met many people along this journey, drove through many towns, that reaffirmed the truth that Christ is living amongst us (in us), but perhaps there was a moment that was undeniable. The last full day of our trip we were stopping at different lookout points along the Grand Canyon South Rim to catch the sunset. Trying to find the right moment to pull over, we were thwarted a couple times for various reasons of crowding or detour. Continuing along, we were led to a nook just off the main road, right before the last stop, where no one seemed to be. No one but one. I didn’t catch her name, or if I did I don’t remember, but we found this woman enjoying the last bit of light, by herself, in the snow. We exchanged pleasantries and after some polite chit chat this woman said, “you see something like this then wonder how people don’t believe in God.” And that’s undeniable!

The fact that this stranger, this lady that had met me no more than 15 minutes before, mentioned the Father and His glory is an answered prayer of confirmation that He is true, He is with us, and He is undeniable. Constantly finding out who our Lord is has been an amazing journey this far. As I start to really develop this relationship I have with Jesus, I see just how much He pleases me with His loving nature. He is an amazing comforter who lavishes us with love and blessings. He is an affectionate, giving God, which makes me want to give Him the same. It encourages me to answer His calls and try to give Him more of the intricate involvement He gives us.

Though I’ve noticed spending more time in prayer makes Jesus’ name more prominent in my life, or words of blessings flow freely, I’ve also noticed how it reveals areas of my character that are faulty. Things that are sinful both in flesh and in spirit. Things that may hinder the Gospel. As I pray to be refined in these things I’m thankful for the fruit of a relationship with Christ. I’m thankful that I can see the affect of prayer and the power so freely given. Lord, may we continue to be in one another, may I seek to know more prayer, and may you keep me in Your good graces. Amen!

Focused Distractions - Week 17

I’m becoming increasingly more aware of the distractions that seek to interrupt our thoughts of God. Instead of giving the good Lord the praise He deserves, the communication He desires, and the requests He’s waiting to grant, we often tend to fill our mouths with the obstrocities or downfalls we’re witness to. We’re quick to voice our growing complaints and follow them up with harmful suggestions which keep our seperation in divide. While it saddens me to admit I fall victim to this lifestyle myself, I am praying to keep focused on the Wisdom that transforms all those negativities and walk a path illuminated by His grace.

Wisdom tells us, “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24) It grants us love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22) Wisdom says, “I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living,” (Psalm 27:13) and that to have it is better than gold. (Proverbs 16:16) We are told that all the treasures of wisdom are found in Christ Himself (Colossians 2:3) and that we should seek Him continually, above all else.

As I continue to discover what seeking Jesus actually looks like, I can recognize the work of His Spirit flowing through me. I can see the growth of communication and an increase of His guidance being sought. In learning just how much I desire to live a life led by God while partaking in His miracle of life, I am also finding it difficult to stay interested in learning about what that means. I am finding it difficult to follow through with developing thoughts and I still haven’t quite figured out how to listen. Perhaps it’s the distractions that keep me from listening and the disinterest of learning that fuels my complaints, but that’s why I pray.

The distractions we face on a daily basis aren’t limited to the things we watch, the things we listen to, or the company we keep, but they also include a wide range of feelings. These feelings have the ability to lead us astray and can isolate the purpose of life. By letting these feelings take precedence over the beauty of God we run the risk of damaging the objective of unity. We make it possible to lose sight of who we are in Christ and bruise our hope for peace by reinforcing the segregation we all detest. With a slip of the tongue our complaints become our conviction and we’re hurting those who hurt us by doing the same. We become the charge we’re taking a stand against and lose all the loving energy we have ourselves. And loving takes energy! But perhaps that’s why I grow disinterested in learning.

Learning more of what love looks like, it becomes hard work putting you’re heart on the line when so many people seem to have their own at interest. It’s hard to love and sobering to continually find out what that means. It hurts to have an awareness of how things were intended or how they can be now because we seem to be so far from the paradise that’s promised. However, learning what love has done for us can make the work worthwhile. It can bring ease to the discomfort of freeing our heart and allow our awareness to feed the globes hunger. We can take delight in the standing of our world because of the Love that lives amongst us. Because of the Love that lives in each one of us. (Colossians 3:11)

We have the potential for greatness with God because He was first with us. We’re changing the world one day at a time and influencing our surroundings by the immediacy of our actions. We are involved in the progression of our humanity and when we begin to see just how big an influence our little part plays, I pray we soften our hearts to the hardness of reality. I pray we have a desire to let the Spirit lead and the courage to follow. I pray we separate the distractions from our reason by letting the truth run wild in our life.

That’s what I’m asking the Lord to do with me. Run wild in my life! Lead me to things unknown and miracles unseen. I want to play all the days of my life on the grounds of His Kingdom and I want to be excited about the things He lay before me, however mundane. God may you make a fire out of me! May you take this life and fuel Your purpose. Give breath because I’m winded, give enthusiasm because I’m bothered, give notice because I’m distracted. Christ give me more of you!

Going into this next week I’m really praying for an undeniable encounter. I’m asking that the frenzy not get louder than His voice and that I be sensitive to His involvement. May the good Lord turn up the volume of His quiet whisper and take me to a place of amazement. May He thwart all interruptions that try to hinder His plan and help me to be grateful for the simple. Putting these requests at the feet of Jesus, I am also praying for you.

Thankful for the exposure our Creator has already given, I pray that He continue to familiarize Himself with you. I pray that He bring to light the ways He intricately works and that your distractions fall by the waste side. I pray that God bring awareness to the truth of love in your life and that He use you to show the same to others. I pray that you never grow tired of learning but that the desire to seek is a steady constant and that you persevere in Spirit. Blessed be the children of God. Blessed be His child. Blessed be the one He knows by name. Bless the Lord oh my soul. Blessed be you! 

Praise and Wait - Week 16

         

         I took some time this week to be intentional with my prayers. I returned to the pen and paper I’d set aside for nearly a month and wrote to God about the many things I’ve had on my heart. The pages were quickly filled with thoughts and one night I even think my time with the Lord lasted about an hour. In these pages I adored God for who He is and the blessings I see Him providing. I got to lift up others in hopes that they would have a desire to draw closer to Jesus. With specifics, I asked our Father to reveal His majesty to me and the ones I petitioned for so that our lips would have more reason to praise.

            While purposely seeking out three days to write to the Lord, I also purposely removed myself from a certain distraction for three days. I didn’t miss the distraction so much and it wasn’t so hard to do, but writing to the Lord and focusing in on my prayers was somewhat different. I stuggled in my intention and I almost opted out of a letter one night, but God bekoned me to follow through. My second letter was shorter than the first and my third letter was shorther than the both, but I’m thankful that my purpose was disciplined. Each time my words grew shorter and I had less desire to actually pen my thoughts. However, I’m grateful that these dedications were written for they did not go unheard. The good Lord responded clearly and faithfully to two of the written appeals.

A friend of mine was planning on going to the doctor for a sinus infection he thought he had. He was awake all night with a migrane and felt an awful congestion that no over the counter medication was providing relief for. After our coversation that night I asked Jesus to heal him, to clear his breathing, to take away his pain, and to give him a calmed peace. The next day when I asked my friend what the doctor said, he revealed to me that he didn’t go because he woke up feeling so much better. My friend didn’t ask for prayers, I didn’t tell him that I would or had lifted his health up to God in request, but when he told me that he felt better I did respond with, “well praise the Lord!” I saw our Father heal this week.

In addition to this healing, I also saw God make some progressive movements. Being stuck in an irritating situation for the past couple months, my mother was facing hurdle after hurdle dealing with the floods in her house. One night, after hearing about her growing frustration, I lifted her up in detailed prayer. I asked God to take control of the situation, to step in with the contractors, and give response to a silence that seemed unending. That next day, things started to move. Many phone calls took place, many discussion were had, and some answers were provided. No, not everything was magically restored, but things did start to move at an accelerated pace. So praise the Lord indeed!

Looking back at these faithful responses something about my mothers situation sparked my curiousity. Many prayers had already been said over the past two months regarding this matter, so what changed? Guidance had been asked for, leadings had been requested, and peace had been saught, but what gave to this timely response? Could it be the details that mattered? Could God be asking us to be extremely specific with Him? Could He be asking us to engage not just on a genereal level but on every level? Why yes, I do believe. I believe God wants to be in the nitty gritty of it all (He is). He wants everything we got. He wants every plan, every detail, every thought, and sometimes that’s hard to give Him. In growing with God I can see the different ways I’m learing to communicate with Him. I can see the inclusion He has in my life and the areas I’m still foolhardidly trying to control myself.

Trying to relinquish control and ask God for direction is not easy. I have a hard time dicerning my thoughts from His responses and seperating my will from His guiding. I have trouble trusting that my longings are not promptings from the Lord and I wrestle with what He would want me to do, especially in certain relationships. If my longings aren’t the truth of God’s will may He help me by making that obviously clear. If what I’m craving is different from what He’d have, I’m praying that our Father will take away the cries of my heart and replace it with the joy of His Spirit. I’m asking that Jesus lead the way in our lives and further the good work He has already started, regardless of the things we want.

Lately, along with being assured in the promises of God, I have once again been reminded to wait on the Lord. For, “the Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him,” (Lamentations 3:25) and our loving Father is certainly good to me, even in the sometimes-painful waiting. The past couple days, wherever I turned, what ever I did, wherever I went, I was waiting. Even in asking the Lord which way to go, He led me to a place of waiting. I was slowed at every direction but thankfully I didn’t let the absurdity of these prolonged activities get under my skin. I remained in good spirit by trusting that God was doing something through these sluggish occurrences. When all is said and done I still got everywhere I needed to be. I still did everything I needed to do but it was all done differently than I had expected. It guess it was all done according to His time and I pray to give Him more of mine.

Worded Beliefs - Week 15

I’ve mentioned before that I believe God speaks to me situationally. While I would love to hear Him speak in other ways (something I’ve been praying for), the company and circumstances He brings my way can always reveal His guidance if I’m willing to pay attention. Last week I wrote about the promises of our Lord. How we can learn to trust in them while standing firm on the grounds in which He’s laid them out for us. Since writing about these promises, our pastor preached on promises, I’ve had Bible verses given to me about promises, and I’ve heard the word promise more times than I can count. There isn’t a clear direction of where to go with these circumstances but I fully trust it’s a confirmation that God’s promises are valid.

There are many many many promises our good God has given us in Scripture. Promises like, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33) Promises that tell us we can have peace because He has overcome the world. (John 16:33) Promises that say God has given each one of us a gift (1 Peter 4:10) and that Christ is with us wherever we go. (Joshua 1:9) In these promises (and the countless others) we can watch the truth of God flourish in our lives. We are able to witness His power by asking Him to reveal it and we can learn of His power by reading what He’s done.

This past week I completed reading through the entire Bible. It took less than 20 minutes each day, for 365 days. It was my second time reading it all the way through and my first time in order. I read things I didn’t know were in there and as I read it again I’m sure it will be the same. In reading this past year I’ve learned new things about what God has done throughout history, about the people who followed Him, and about the pattern society has in parting from Him. I’ve been reminded in reading that it’s impossible to fully understand the greatness of God but to trust in His faithfulness while living in praiseful declaration. Some Scriptures were difficult to get through sequentially, some had me wonder why they were in there, and others I questioned. However, regardless of my own understanding, I fully believe that in their original form, the Scriptures are accurately and verifiably the word of God, something I never would have considered 12 years ago.

I didn’t grow up in a church, or even a home that talked of God. I didn’t always have a relationship with Jesus and I never really thought about who He is. Though I spent some time in a youth group throughout my teens, I went mainly to get out of the house; I went mainly to get in trouble before and after. I never took seriously the subject of what we were gathering together to discuss and I certainly didn’t believe God cared about me. In my mind, there was no God and if there was, I was unsure of who that God was. In my early twenties my curiosity grew and I asked for a Bible. I wanted to be able to defend my disbelief. I wanted to be able to point out all the things I found dysfunctional about the Christian religion and underline the several contradictions I found. In doing so, I didn’t find any inconsistency, I didn’t find reasons to doubt their centrality, and I found out that the truth of the matter was always the same whether I agreed with the Word or not. Jesus came so that we could have life and life abundantly. (John 10:10)

Over the years I’ve looked into other religious worldviews, I’ve studied some of the biggest theological ideas, and have found none more rational than that of our Triune Creator. Every view on God may have some point of truth but they can’t all be completely true, they just can’t. So what makes me so sure that the Holy Bible is the complete truth of God? Well aside from the life it breathes into ones soul, no other book has been ostracized more than these Scriptures. No other book has survived as many attacks for over 1,900 years (since the beginning of time really) and then remained the number one best seller in the world. As far as I know it is not illegal to read any other book other than the Bible in select areas over the globe and for no other Word do people risk their lives in being killed to love on people in telling them the truth of who Christ is. Because of these things and the ways that God has directly worked in me, I am sure that the 66 books of the Holy Bible are right and true. “Every word of God proves true.” (Proverbs 30:5a)

This doesn’t mean that certain things in our Scriptures are easy to swallow, easy to understand, or easy to agree with. It doesn’t mean that I have an everyday interest in reading, or even an excitement about spending time with them, but it does mean I believe they can change your life.  It does mean that if you read them completely I believe they take root in your heart. There’s no sense in saying we don’t believe in God if we don’t know who God is and we can’t know who God is unless we take the time to find out. Once we take that time to discover the truth of who God is we can continue to discover what He’s really like by experiencing our life with Him, by rereading His Word, and by building on our already present relationship with Him. God has been extremely kind in giving His people a glimpse of His power. He has written out the truth of life for us to share with others and it makes good sense to believe.