Today we are broken, hurt, angry, tired, over-scheduled, sick, lonely…but as Christians, we are also forgiven, redeemed, born again, loved, full of grace and hope. But do we truly recognize our uttermost need to be in relationship with Him? And I’m not just talking about a once-a-day-prayer-to-God or a once-a-week-Sunday-morning kind of relationship. I’m talking about the bare-your-soul and be-totally-honest type of relationship.
One of my dearest friends and spiritual mentors, Michelle, raised this question to our Girlfriends small group: Are we just checking off boxes on our spiritual lists to make ourselves feel better? For instance: Yes, I prayed today. Check. Yes, I went to church this week. Check. Yes, I donated to a local charity. Check. Check. Check. Or are we seeking a raw and authentic relationship with God? Are we giving ourselves freely to Him or are we freely giving Him our leftovers? My prayer is that we can be fervent in our time spent with God, that our prayers would not be hollow and trite but rather intentional and purposeful. (If you have not read “Fervent” by Pricilla Shirer then add it to your very short reading list!) I am reminded that our time in His Presence should be one full of passion and purpose, and with a renewed spirit. By focusing on Him, we remember who we are…that our identity is not found in this world or by how much we accumulate here on Earth. Our true identity comes from our confidence in the Truth and our understanding that we cannot be fully alive apart from Him.
We need to start with diligently praying for our families and our core people because you can better bet that satan is actively trying to drive wedges in these important relationships. Pricilla Shirer points out that we must stop fighting with one another because that is right where satan wants us to be. Rather, we need to start assuming a new fighting position…and no, this new position is NOT behind a screen on social media. Our fighting position needs to be on our knees…in prayer…praying for one another and in turn fighting against the evil forces of satan.
Dear God,
Sometimes I just want to cry out…where are You??? And then I hear You tell me that You’ve been here all along. You open Your arms and welcome me back. Lord, thank you that in the midst of so much devastation and pain, You are here. Thank you that the victory has already been won. Help us to focus on You so that we may do Your will in our lives.
In Your Name,
Amen
So today, I challenge you to throw the list in the air (Heart palpitations, I know!) and just be in His Presence…whether through scripture, worship in song, and/or prayer.
In Him,
Ashley
“This is the day the Lord hath made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
~Psalm 118:24
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