Showing posts with label Lent. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lent. Show all posts
Friday, April 15, 2011
A profound lesson during Lent
"Pursuing God has less to do with what we give up and more to do with making Him a priority." (taken from The Prayers of David)
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Longing
In my journey through Lent and physical affliction, the Lord has spoken to me about longing. It's not terribly intellectual. It's actually quite simple.
When I came down with my physical affliction, I was no longer able to run. Nor was I able to exercise at all. This was a huge deal for this girl who enjoys exercising and does it 5 or 6 days a week. To go from an almost daily routine of running/exercising to nothing was, to say it lightly, painful.
I'd be in my car driving, and I'd see runners or bikers and this intense longing would come over me. I would long to be in their shoes...literally. One day the Lord spoke very clearly to me... Do you long for me the way you long for exercise? Ouch!!!
I've spent the last week or so wrestling this through. It humbled me to the core because I realized my priorities had gotten way out of whack. As my schedule would grow busy and chaotic, I would let many things slide from my to-do list...but never exercise. It was the one thing I always made time for. I'd rationalize that I was still spending time with God as I prayed throughout my busy day. And I was. But I wasn't pulling my chair up to His table and communing with Him - the very thing He longs for me to do.
Today marks 4 weeks of no exercise, but I am in a much better place mentally and spiritually. Although physically I could start easing back into an exercise routine, I've decided I'm gonna wait this one out. The time I would spend exercising I am now spending with God, asking Him to heal my longings and turn them toward Him and His Word.
And ya wanna know what?! He is changing my heart. My daily prayer has become, "Lord, don't let me be satisfied with just a little of you." And He is being true to His character. He is being faithful.
When I came down with my physical affliction, I was no longer able to run. Nor was I able to exercise at all. This was a huge deal for this girl who enjoys exercising and does it 5 or 6 days a week. To go from an almost daily routine of running/exercising to nothing was, to say it lightly, painful.
I'd be in my car driving, and I'd see runners or bikers and this intense longing would come over me. I would long to be in their shoes...literally. One day the Lord spoke very clearly to me... Do you long for me the way you long for exercise? Ouch!!!
I've spent the last week or so wrestling this through. It humbled me to the core because I realized my priorities had gotten way out of whack. As my schedule would grow busy and chaotic, I would let many things slide from my to-do list...but never exercise. It was the one thing I always made time for. I'd rationalize that I was still spending time with God as I prayed throughout my busy day. And I was. But I wasn't pulling my chair up to His table and communing with Him - the very thing He longs for me to do.
Today marks 4 weeks of no exercise, but I am in a much better place mentally and spiritually. Although physically I could start easing back into an exercise routine, I've decided I'm gonna wait this one out. The time I would spend exercising I am now spending with God, asking Him to heal my longings and turn them toward Him and His Word.
And ya wanna know what?! He is changing my heart. My daily prayer has become, "Lord, don't let me be satisfied with just a little of you." And He is being true to His character. He is being faithful.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Undone
I've become undone. Nothing is as it used to be. At least for now. I'm undone, but I am secure.
When I began my journey through Lent, I expected several things but I never expected the spiritual attack that Satan would wage against me. It all started three weeks ago through a physical affliction that hit me with such force that all activity came to a screeching halt.
It's then that Satan took the opportunity to discourage me and tempt me to abandon prayer and praise to my God. Little did I know that God had some big lessons in store for me. It was during this three weeks, when the circumstances of my life had me in the valley, that my awareness of God took me to the mountain top.
Over and over again through this journey of Lent I have had to confess a proud heart. A heart that tries to take credit for things only God can do. A heart that wants the glory for His mighty work. A heart that is prone to wander, yet applauds its own return as if it were of my own doing.
Lord Jesus, you looked at me in the crowd - yes, I was there - taunting you. You knew how I would choose. You knew I would choose evil. But in that moment...you chose death on a cross. You chose death so I could be with You forever. What lavish love! I am undone by You.
I don't want to be as I was before. I want to be undone every day as I sink into the realization of how He loves me. I want to sink in His grace. I want to swim in His mercy.
What blessedness - to be undone.
When I began my journey through Lent, I expected several things but I never expected the spiritual attack that Satan would wage against me. It all started three weeks ago through a physical affliction that hit me with such force that all activity came to a screeching halt.
It's then that Satan took the opportunity to discourage me and tempt me to abandon prayer and praise to my God. Little did I know that God had some big lessons in store for me. It was during this three weeks, when the circumstances of my life had me in the valley, that my awareness of God took me to the mountain top.
Over and over again through this journey of Lent I have had to confess a proud heart. A heart that tries to take credit for things only God can do. A heart that wants the glory for His mighty work. A heart that is prone to wander, yet applauds its own return as if it were of my own doing.
Lord Jesus, you looked at me in the crowd - yes, I was there - taunting you. You knew how I would choose. You knew I would choose evil. But in that moment...you chose death on a cross. You chose death so I could be with You forever. What lavish love! I am undone by You.
I don't want to be as I was before. I want to be undone every day as I sink into the realization of how He loves me. I want to sink in His grace. I want to swim in His mercy.
What blessedness - to be undone.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Purity
"Purity comes with a radical attitude toward the thought life." (Beth Moore, David)
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your MIND and with all your strength." ~ Mark 12:30
"May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart (thoughts) be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my rock and redeemer." ~ Psalm 19:14
I began this 2nd day of Lent meditating on these truths. In order to have the mind of Christ, I must think as he does. It's a radical departure from the selfish, worldy, impure thoughts that usually consume me. Thankfully, His Word tells me exactly how I should think.
"Whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy...think about such things." ~ Phillipians 4:6-7
Lord, I pray you will garrison my mind with truth. Protect my thoughts from going astray. Let the helmet of salvation cover my head so tightly that all I ponder today leads back to you and the sacrifice you made for me on the cross.
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your MIND and with all your strength." ~ Mark 12:30
"May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart (thoughts) be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my rock and redeemer." ~ Psalm 19:14
I began this 2nd day of Lent meditating on these truths. In order to have the mind of Christ, I must think as he does. It's a radical departure from the selfish, worldy, impure thoughts that usually consume me. Thankfully, His Word tells me exactly how I should think.
"Whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy...think about such things." ~ Phillipians 4:6-7
Lord, I pray you will garrison my mind with truth. Protect my thoughts from going astray. Let the helmet of salvation cover my head so tightly that all I ponder today leads back to you and the sacrifice you made for me on the cross.
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