How vulnerable are we in our daily lives? In today's society of private homes, security systems,call display, texting, firewalls and passwords, how vulnerable do we really allow ourselves to be?
Today in my quiet time with God, He gave me a new perspective on how vulnerable Christ must have felt and been on the cross. I laid on my study floor with arms spread wide and the feeling made me shudder! Christ made himself totally vulnerable and exposed for me....my Creator, the Creator of the universe!! Inconceivable. What kind of love is that? Beyond my ability or comprehension, that's what.
However, I believe that is the type of vulnerablity God is calling me to. I like feeling secure and independent and free. God wants me to be secure, dependent and free in Him and then be vulnerable to others out of love for Him. That means letting others in behind the mask, into my home and into my free time. Exposing myself to the possibility of being hurt, taken advantage of and inconvenienced. That doesn't mean I let people walk all over me or tolerate toxic relationships or expose myself to unrestrained scutiny. God gave me a brain and expects me to utilize it! That being said, I believe God wants me to be vulnerable with wisdom and intelligence, loving as much as I can and whoever He brings into my path.
Lord give me eyes to see those you have called me to love and be vulnerable with and courage to do it because You did it for me.
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Prayer
A few days ago I started reading a small book by R.A. Torrey called 'How to Pray'. I am always surprised by these small books by "old dead guys", as our friend Neil would say, and the insights I gather from them. What a powerful little book!
I often take prayer much too lightly, breeze through it too quickly or struggle with spending the time on it. This book has given me a whole new way to look at prayer and the importance of it!
He starts in right at the beginning with eleven reasons to pray. I am only half way through the list at the moment but will speak to two in each blog as I go through the book. Ephesians 6:18 is the verse he states expresses the importance and need for prayer:
"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints."
The author calls us to " constant, persistent, sleepless, overcoming prayer" and repeats those words frequently throughout the book in the hope " that these words.....might burn into our hearts."
The first reason he states for the need of "constant, persisitent, sleepless, overcoming prayer" is that there is a devil.
Secondly is that "prayer is God's appointed way for obtaining things" and the reason we flounder in all we do or have weak results is we don't spend enough time in prayer!
I know I tend to forget who and what I am fighting against in my life. My eyes can't see the spiritual realm around me and so I fail to recognize where the battle truly is. My need for prayer is there as soon as I open my eyes, from the moment my brain kicks into gear and my feet touch the floor because there is a devil lurking nearby looking to tear me apart and destroy my witness for Christ. I DO NOT want that to happen and so I need to pray first thing in the morning and all day long. Now that doesn't mean I sit in my study and do nothing but read God's Word and pray. It means I need to have a quiet time of prayer with God, to start my day and then to frequently be offering prayers to Him throughout my day as He brings things or people to my mind or as I encounter troubles, fear, challenges, LIFE!
I have a tendency to be a whiner and complainer. Lame, I know! I want to be a Princess and just have life go my way. My sinful self.
The part of me that loves my Saviour Jesus Christ longs to live a life that honours and glorifies Him and the only way I can truly and best do that is through "constant, persistent, sleepless and overcoming prayer".
Father, thank you for R. A. Torrey and his willingness to write this book and that it has come into my hands. Thank you that you did not leave us here alone on earth to flounder but have left us your holy Word that instructs and shows us your will. Draw me each morning to prayer and time spent in Your Presence. You make it all worthwhile!!
I often take prayer much too lightly, breeze through it too quickly or struggle with spending the time on it. This book has given me a whole new way to look at prayer and the importance of it!
He starts in right at the beginning with eleven reasons to pray. I am only half way through the list at the moment but will speak to two in each blog as I go through the book. Ephesians 6:18 is the verse he states expresses the importance and need for prayer:
"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints."
The author calls us to " constant, persistent, sleepless, overcoming prayer" and repeats those words frequently throughout the book in the hope " that these words.....might burn into our hearts."
The first reason he states for the need of "constant, persisitent, sleepless, overcoming prayer" is that there is a devil.
Secondly is that "prayer is God's appointed way for obtaining things" and the reason we flounder in all we do or have weak results is we don't spend enough time in prayer!
I know I tend to forget who and what I am fighting against in my life. My eyes can't see the spiritual realm around me and so I fail to recognize where the battle truly is. My need for prayer is there as soon as I open my eyes, from the moment my brain kicks into gear and my feet touch the floor because there is a devil lurking nearby looking to tear me apart and destroy my witness for Christ. I DO NOT want that to happen and so I need to pray first thing in the morning and all day long. Now that doesn't mean I sit in my study and do nothing but read God's Word and pray. It means I need to have a quiet time of prayer with God, to start my day and then to frequently be offering prayers to Him throughout my day as He brings things or people to my mind or as I encounter troubles, fear, challenges, LIFE!
I have a tendency to be a whiner and complainer. Lame, I know! I want to be a Princess and just have life go my way. My sinful self.
The part of me that loves my Saviour Jesus Christ longs to live a life that honours and glorifies Him and the only way I can truly and best do that is through "constant, persistent, sleepless and overcoming prayer".
Father, thank you for R. A. Torrey and his willingness to write this book and that it has come into my hands. Thank you that you did not leave us here alone on earth to flounder but have left us your holy Word that instructs and shows us your will. Draw me each morning to prayer and time spent in Your Presence. You make it all worthwhile!!
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