A Prayer for Scale Shedding

It is not so much method of prayer that makes prayer effective, but perpetuity in the Spirit of prayer. Man, if I could just get that into my spirit. This morning I ran with a student. He's at a crossroads place, a place where there is a seeming insurmountable task in front of him. He is running 12 minute miles, unable to run for a mile without stopping. He has to run 2 miles in under 16 minutes in 10 days in order to get a military scholarship. I can't see how it's going to happen. What does one do in this situation?

Just do it. See what happens. Open up a channel for God to work. Go. Do. See. This is the faith life. I'm not exactly sure how today's events connect to prayer, but I feel that they do. Today I pray that I was in the spirit of James 1:22, don't be a hearer, be a doer of the Word. There are many words that Jesus used to describe the Life, but it's important to reflect that they were all in the moment. Jesus took in the totality of the situation and responded. And I pray that my prayer life grows in this way: that I look out and see what is happening and pray in kind, with immediacy and fervency and vigor; in the Spirit.

Lord Jesus, there are many obstacles to simplicity in dwelling in You, but I pray that You continuously pull the scales from my eyes that I may see Your wonders, even better, Your wonderfulness (Acts 9:18, Psalm 119:18).

In Jesus Name,

Amen

Comments

Meditation as Rightly Concentrated Consideration | Contemplation as The Course of Right Action

Let us begin by saying that the basic difference between meditation and contemplation is that meditation is a human mode of prayer whereas contemplation is divinely infused prayer. This morning I consider, consideration. It's a term often used in the Bible, I believe in both the old and new testament. While you are going about your life, have you considered this... It's the entryway to the contemplative life. I use contemplation there, as a culminating thing, intentionally. Before I read a little bit, I might have considered using the word meditation instead, but that reveals my persuasion and error; also my inexperience. Meditation is man-initiated deep-thought. It's hope is to reach God. Contemplation, as exposed in the article below, is Spirit-breathed prayer inside of us, guiding us to right and holy actions. As I was searching consideration "vs" the other 2 terms, concentration came up. Presently, I see that as the course from consideration to meditation....

Abide.

March 8th And now abide these three, faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Cor 13:13 John 15. Jesus is at his most concise and articulate. John remembers. Time is short. Jesus has to summarize how they are to live after He is gone and, because it may get hard, why . His guidance weaves into and out of God; it abides and commands. For love and joy. It makes friends. And something else. Jesus didn't have to come. He could have let this place alone. And that's probably why those who hated Him really hated Him. He told them they were wrong. He messed up their flow and their designs. They had a pretty good handle on things, managing the masses, and He was disruptive... for what reason?! But He did come. And He did call a spade a spade. And He did come with a double edged sword. He made clear what the choice was. And the benefits on one hand, the dangers on the other.

A Quantitative Approach to Quality

Jess and I have been going through the struggles of middle-aged-ness. I've gotten heavier. I'm searching for renewed meaning in the face of the consistent sameness I experience on the day to day. Our sex life is lacking something. For Jess, I think the same things could be said. At the same time, there is a lot to be excited about! We're moving out of home ownership into a "lighter" way of living, considering job prospects and next options, and wondering about school for Sadie. I come to find that no matter the age, there is always a lot going on. But each age has its characteristic struggles. As I come on my 40s, I have a lot to think about regarding the way I do life. It's a pivotal age in considering how long I want to do life. Given my family's age, how well I want to do life. And given my own disposition, how much do I want out of life? These considerations really began at sex. I was thinking about quality vs quantity, and how the God way of ...

In the Morning When I Rise

Search This Blog