For awhile now, I have seen the patterns of need for prayer in my life and in my journey. If you've been following this blog, you know that I have gone from not being able to pray in front of anyone to praying in my LifeTeam, with my parents, with my husband and with my daughter. God has taught me bit by bit that this is one of the ways that I will strengthen my relationship with him.
Now, and I think I'm catching on a little earlier on this one, it's Scripture. "You can pray it, you can live it, but eventually you're going to run out of knowledge and motivation if you don't read it. And don't just read it, let it soak in," he says. But he doesn't say it, he brings it before me.
I think it started with Dean's series on the seven miracles in the gospel of John. That piqued my interest in the Word. Then, there was the realization that in all this talk of my journey, I don't quote any scripture. I don't care how fuel efficient your car is, you're going to have to refuel on your way across the country. As this nagged at me more and more, I decided last night to read at least a portion of the book of James. Dean had referred to James 1:2-4, Consider it pure joy, my friends, whenever you face trials of many kinds, Because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverence. Pereseverence must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. Hmmm...
Then, in our LifeTeam tonight, instead of watching our Beth Moore video on Esther we prayed (alot!) for the group members that were not able to be with us, for the family in our church that was struck this week with the tragedy of losing their son, and for anything else that we had on our hearts. AND WE READ SCRIPTURE. It was Tammy's suggestion, something that God had laid on her heart, and it fit just perfectly on mine as well.
So here are the two that really spoke to me...and in the writing of this, I just realized how closely they relate to the part of James that I mentioned earlier...
In the day of my trouble I will call to you, for you will answer me. ~Psalms 86:7
I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion, therefore I will wait for him." ~Lamentations 3:24
So, I sure hope the Lord isn't foreshadowing and preparing me for something bad to happen in my life. Maybe He's just showing me what I need to know so that I can be of support to others. But I do know that he will be there through my pain, should it come. I hear it loud and clear.
How amazing is that...that we can know, without a doubt that he will not leave us? You never really know with people. Friends, family members, they can all leave our side in the blink of an eye. But the Lord, our God will be there ALWAYS. Comforting, healing, teaching and loving us the whole way through the storm.
I don't ask for people to pray for me very often, but I do have just one request...would you pray that the Lord would give me the determination to read the Word each day? That I would be given a time each day that I could read and reflect and pray? And most of all, that I would do it with a happy heart, truly seeking not fulfilling an obligation.
Thank you.
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