Earlier this week, I read this post. Go there and read it and then meet me back here. Please? One of the best posts I have ever read. Might just be where I am right now, but it has rolled around in my brain the entire week. Why do I pray? What is my purpose in it? How do I feel that God could change circumstances, but for now chooses not to? Big questions for me. Ones I am actually thrilled to spend time thinking about.
I want my prayer life to be so much more than it is. This week as I have started to pray for my "requests" I have stopped and just prayed for my soul. That God would have His way with my soul. That is such a new thought for me. He is more concerned about the condition of my soul than my physical condition, my emotional condition...
He still wants for me to be whole and healed and well. But that is not top priority. He wants me (my spirit) to be all that He intended for it to be. For many years I have told people that I don't think I really love God. Some have gasped that I could say that. But it's true. I don't think I REALLY love Him. I knew that's where I needed to work on my relationship with Jesus but it seemed too hard, too intangible. So, since it wasn't easy, I have not spent time really getting to know Him so that in turn I would learn to love Him.
Sure am glad He is patient and He loves me in spite of myself. This week He is stretching me. I feel it. There is something stirring in me that has been dead for a long time. My friends lost their home in a fire this week. Everything! They and their 3 children made it out alive (their dog did not survive) but they have lost almost all of their material possessions. However, to see friends and The Church rally around. To see the providence of God in how events played out. What a blessing to be a part of it. To be able to give back to others after being on the receiving end for all this time. What a privilege. To get over bitterness that I have held after feeling let down because I felt forgotten. It is freeing.
God is wanting more for each of us. He wants souls that are fully devoted to Him. Souls that want to do His work. Souls that aren't so caught up in ourselves and our needs. Souls that put Him first. He will do whatever it takes, because He loves us that much! Maybe a little pain. Maybe a little loss. For our own good. For my own good. Lord, I want to love you. Keep pursuing me...I think I am finally getting it.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
20 comments:
I read the other post, and I have to say I agree and I am convicted too... thanks.
I read the post you linked to. My heart sank- I am so guilty. The part about a heaven with all whom I love that is filled with joy, love, peace and happiness, but no Jesus. This makes me sick to admit, but the first thought that jumped into my head was, Yes, I could be okay with that.
I have been a Christian since I was 8. I have not always sought after Christ, but with the birth of my first son, 12 years ago I gave my life back to the Lord. I seek to love the Lord with all of my heart, but honestly and in all reality, I am failing. This saddens me immensely.
Thank you for sharing this with us. I think it will open many hearts, minds and eyes.
I can relate to what you said about "really" loving Him. I feel He listens to my prayers when they are the messiest. I love hearing songs and putting in the word "I" and "me" to make it more personal. I'm praying your relationship grows this year! I'll also pray for the family who lost their home! I'm glad you got to see God reveal Himself!
Love,
Angie xoxo
it certainly is going to change my prayer life.
conviction going on here, and I'm ok with that.
Great Post, My Friend...
We all need a reminder that when everything seems lost, God is EVERYTHING we need.
Praise God for good friends and wonderful church families!!
Love,
Sharon
tears in my eyes...
thank you so much for this Sheryl, and for the link to the other post.
been reading Jonathon Falwell's
"One Great Truth" this week, and
how God taught him the true meaning of "Not I, But Christ"
through the death of his father.
and it just brings it all together reading your post.
thank you so much for this!
Blessings!
love you,
jill
Amen! Someone else recently wrote, "What if the things I am complaining about are the very things that God is using to shape me?" His way is not our way. He is more concerned about our soul than our situation.
Thank you for the reminder my friend! Now I am off to read that post. I sure could use it today!
Unfortunately, guilty too.
I will pop over to your suggested site tomorrow when I have a lil more time. But your post is great. I have thought lately about how in John Jesus speaks about really loving Him and what that means. The Lord has spoke to my heart for a few months and said "love results in action." So true when I thought about it. Jesus loved us so much that he died (action) for us. My love for the Lord should be followed by obedience. But the cool part is that He wants to bless us through our obedience. The more I understand the depth of my Father's love for me the more I "get it." Love results in action...
Love you my friend,
Nicole
Sheryl,
Thanks so much for sharing that incredible post with us. I just sat in awe.
What amazing insight, what a heart after God.
I have so much to think about now, she shed light on so much truth.
I'm sorry to read about your friend. One of our closest friends lost their home in a fire right before Christmas, lost everything too, just the clothes on their backs ,literally.
My worship time and prayer will never be the same.
Thanks again♥
sheryl-I felt God convicting me to work on my prayer life in 2009, to truly become a women of prayer. It is a building of the soul, a building of your love relationship with christ. I couldn't agree with you more here!
Blessings!
In His Graces~Pamela
So incredibly guilty. Thanks for the reminder to examine myself and my prayer life.
Love ya much,
Kimberly
I have actually read this blog a few times and I feel so overwhelmed of GOD's love toward me. I am reminded again of what its to be about. There have been things that I have prayed for and well they did not happen as I would like. But you know through those unanswered prayers I became so desperate for him and not just for something I may want but I just need him.
I am so thankful to you...as you use your gifts to assist others... when you probably still need assistance of your own. From my view, your "soul" is far above the ashes. I really appreciate this post and I thank you. Awesome!
Your post is awesome Sheryl. I followed instruction and read the other blog. Truly revolutionary - may our lives, bodies, and souls be totally sold out to God as He has His way which is the best anyway.
You continue to amaze me at the way you open your life to your God. You are example worth following.
Blessings to you my friend.
By the way, love the picture of you and your daughter on Facebook.
Myriam
Sheryl,
Thank you for linking to my blog. I feel badly that I haven't responded to you or to other comments. It's been a crazy week. Both kids sick, approximately 12 total hours of sleep since last weekend and my mind is struggling to keep up with everything. I have so much I'd love to talk with you about, but my brain can't handle more than a few casual sentences about nothingness. :)
The words on my blog were simply those that God was speaking to me - He deserves any glory for any insight or tenderness seen. It's certainly not been this way between God and I lately. Loads of anger and bitterness have had to spill out and be confessed. But He's gentle and patient and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in love and mercy and I pray that He continues to draw me, and all of you, closer to Himself through whatever means will bring us into a *real* relationship with Him (no strings or requests attached by us) and bring Him the ultimate glory, as His kingdom and name is praised here on earth and in Heaven.
I read this link earlier this week and thought y'all might like it too:
http://www.desiringgod.org/Blog/1566_9_Ways_to_Pray_for_Your_Soul/
God is pursuing us all and He will do whatever it takes to get our attention and our eyes re-focused on Him.
This week it was the loss of my husband's job. Who knows what rests in tomorrow.
Today we have joy and peace because we REST in Him.
I am praising God for the encouragement that He is giving through you. I loved this post and the one you linked to! I could ramble on and on :o), but it was a sermon about Lazarus' death a few years ago that shook me awake in my relationship with the Lord. (I still need shaking!) Anyway, the pastor talked about the fact that Jesus wept over their grief, but He allowed it all to happen because He acts for God's glory, not our happiness. My friends and I have a term for these reminders...2x4 moments...because sometimes the Spirit just has to hit us over the head with things :o)
You and your family are in my prayers...and my prayer is that God will be glorified in a mighty way!
Robin
Thanks so much for your visit to my blog! I love what I'm reading here ~ right from my own heart. In recent years I've been praising and thanking in my prayers much more than ever before. God is so good. Hope to visit again!!
Sheryl,
I just keep thinking its all about the relationship, its all about the relationship. That is what He wants from me and its what I need to focus on - developing it w/Him!
Glad to be on this journey w/you!
Love ya', Kim
Post a Comment