Destination Approaching: Prayer
As we approach the Lord’s Day, I wanted to share something a
little different. This week’s post is not my typical blog—but rather a short personal journal entry I wrote this morning for myself. It’s personal to me, but I pray that in sharing it, someone else might be encouraged. We are all fellow travelers on
His Path, Daily.
In my struggles over the past several weeks, I’ve been
wrestling with what GOD is trying to say to me. Wrestling with what I can learn
from these moments and trials and fires. And over the last several weeks, my
list has been growing—certain things on one side that indeed are struggles and
sins that I need to repent of, and certain things on the other side that I want
to do more of, even things I’ve mentioned like gratefulness and thankfulness.
But stepping back today, I look at it and I just see how
much I’m missing the mark. How about I just commune with my Heavenly FATHER?
We are told to be constant in prayer—unceasing. If I would
simply do this, gratefulness and thankfulness would undoubtedly surface
naturally in my prayer. If I would do this, moments of temptation and sin would
be replaced by fervent prayer and pleading for mercy and strength. It’s amazing
how quickly I go back to making a list instead of just going back to talking to
my Heavenly FATHER. Resting in the blood of JESUS CHRIST. Being upheld by the
power of the HOLY SPIRIT.
Instead, I try to make a checklist—to be grateful for
things, thankful for things, and be on the lookout for sin to repent of. While
we obviously should repent of sin—and I’m certainly not saying that a prayer
journal of gratefulness is a bad thing—for me and my purposes, I’m missing the
mark.
I remember starting this new year thinking that the one
thing I wanted was to deepen my relationship with CHRIST so much, and jokingly
said that if people thought I was a “Jesus freak,” then I would be even more so
now!
Yet how was I going to achieve that? Without really saying
it in words, essentially by doing more things—earning my Jesus freak status.
How about I just try to be constantly in prayer with my
Heavenly FATHER?
Daily adoring my FATHER. Daily spending time in confession.
Remembering that I am not only forgiven—I have been washed clean by the blood
of the LAMB. Lifting up praise and thanksgiving to GOD. And then bringing all
things before HIM in prayer, and asking HIM, my Heavenly FATHER—knowing HE
hears me and knowing HE will give me the good things that I need.
How about that’s how I become a Jesus freak?
How about I just abide in CHRIST?
📖Scriptures for Meditation:
- John
15:4–5 (ESV)
“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” - 1
Thessalonians 5:16–18 (ESV)
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” - 1
John 2:1 (ESV)
“My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” - Hebrews
4:16 (ESV)
“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” - 1
John 1:9 (ESV)
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” - Psalm
119:37 (ESV)
“Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways.” - Isaiah
1:18 (ESV)
“Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.”
Be well, church.
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