"Be joyful always. Pray Continually. Give thanks in all circumstances for this is God's will for you in Christ."
- 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Yeah, so...just so ya know-
the greek that's used for "pray continually" in this passage = Come To Rest.
Whoa mama. That's a pretty heavy command our wonderful God gives. This idea that prayer is not some tedious chore to accomplish so much as it is coming to just be and relax and rest in His arms. Relationship, love, companionship, enjoyment of one another.
This is quite a glimpse of our Maker's heart. He has made us creatures, objects of His longing, that must be constantly reliant on Him, ever-resting in His approval, enjoyment, and acceptence.
Fight for it, wait and be still until this is your deepest reality and truth. Rest in Him continually, without end, unceasingly. It will no less than alter your whole exisitence.
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Our War
Ephesians 6- "God is strong, and he wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that we'll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels. Be prepared. You're up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it's all over but the shouting you'll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You'll need them throughout your life. God's Word is an indispensable offensive weapon against the enemy, always effective, always doing much harm. In the same way, prayer is essential in this constant battle. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other's spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out. "
I pray God teach of us to always be available, believing & expectant soldiers in prayer without being overwhelmed and heavy-laden at the size of the battles that do and will continue to ensue without end until His return. May we press in with love, faith, power, & anticipation, grabbing hold of no more and no less than the specific prayer assignments apportioned to each of us, one day @ a time. I pray He teach us to always stay in line with His battle plans alone and forsake the seemingly well-laid plans of flesh & blood. May we never be too numb or too occupied and busied to feel the gentle tug of the Spirit inviting us to war in the unseen- laboring with no less than our Messiah's strength; while never too proud or self-focused to forget that striving in our lifeless fleshly power is of no worth whatsoever & that not a one of us is a lone soldier on this battlefield but a uniquely valuable member of a vast, arising, raging, lovesick army. And praise Him without end that it's not about us. We are not at the center of this epic... and for that my soul can truly breathe a deep sigh of gratitude & relief.
May our spirits be always full of hope, pointed heavenward toward our one true Home.
May we ever be true to Your Word- not for our own form of godliness' sake, but solely for love's sake.
May our mouths be always full of laughter- of drunken, giddy, thankful praise.
May our bodies ever be vessels pure, free & honoring to Thee.
May our minds be stayed on Thee & from this world's rusting, moth-eaten "delights", free.
"A heart without words is of far more value than words without heart"
- John Bunyun
I pray God teach of us to always be available, believing & expectant soldiers in prayer without being overwhelmed and heavy-laden at the size of the battles that do and will continue to ensue without end until His return. May we press in with love, faith, power, & anticipation, grabbing hold of no more and no less than the specific prayer assignments apportioned to each of us, one day @ a time. I pray He teach us to always stay in line with His battle plans alone and forsake the seemingly well-laid plans of flesh & blood. May we never be too numb or too occupied and busied to feel the gentle tug of the Spirit inviting us to war in the unseen- laboring with no less than our Messiah's strength; while never too proud or self-focused to forget that striving in our lifeless fleshly power is of no worth whatsoever & that not a one of us is a lone soldier on this battlefield but a uniquely valuable member of a vast, arising, raging, lovesick army. And praise Him without end that it's not about us. We are not at the center of this epic... and for that my soul can truly breathe a deep sigh of gratitude & relief.
May our spirits be always full of hope, pointed heavenward toward our one true Home.
May we ever be true to Your Word- not for our own form of godliness' sake, but solely for love's sake.
May our mouths be always full of laughter- of drunken, giddy, thankful praise.
May our bodies ever be vessels pure, free & honoring to Thee.
May our minds be stayed on Thee & from this world's rusting, moth-eaten "delights", free.
"A heart without words is of far more value than words without heart"
- John Bunyun
Sunday, December 03, 2006
"He who lives without prayer, he who lives with little prayer, he who seldom reads the Word, and he who seldom looks up to heaven for a fresh influence from on high -he will be the man whose heart will become dry and barren."
-Charles Spurgeon
"Our confidence is not in understanding God’s plan but in knowing we can fully trust in God’s good heart & purpose for good, in leading each step of our lives.
Even now, as we are faced with the fears of the future, I confidently renew my promise to the Lord, daily declaring, “O Lord who is One, lead on and I will follow Thee.” "
-Unknown
"No matter how far away it all may seem, again and again I seem to be somehow falling towards this vision in a way I can't explain. Suspending the law of gravity couldn't stop this longing in my soul from pursuing its goal. No force of nature could pry this dream from my hand. While it seems that I am waiting here… simply suspended in mid-air, I am in fact progressing towards this ultimate and unique destiny which was God-breathed. As I descend, I have to trust that I am gaining speed and momentum in the way of experience and refinement. Each day, each trial, and each victory brings me closer to the certain reality of it-just as time flows eternally forward without fail. In hindsight, I'll stop and suddenly think how quickly the time passed to bring me to that place where my great passions and the great needs of the world met. "
-Tric Morris
"Only let us live up to what we have already attained."
-Philippians 3:16
"You have stolen my heart, my sister, my bride; you have stolen my heart with one glance of your eyes..."
-God
-Charles Spurgeon
"Our confidence is not in understanding God’s plan but in knowing we can fully trust in God’s good heart & purpose for good, in leading each step of our lives.
Even now, as we are faced with the fears of the future, I confidently renew my promise to the Lord, daily declaring, “O Lord who is One, lead on and I will follow Thee.” "
-Unknown
"No matter how far away it all may seem, again and again I seem to be somehow falling towards this vision in a way I can't explain. Suspending the law of gravity couldn't stop this longing in my soul from pursuing its goal. No force of nature could pry this dream from my hand. While it seems that I am waiting here… simply suspended in mid-air, I am in fact progressing towards this ultimate and unique destiny which was God-breathed. As I descend, I have to trust that I am gaining speed and momentum in the way of experience and refinement. Each day, each trial, and each victory brings me closer to the certain reality of it-just as time flows eternally forward without fail. In hindsight, I'll stop and suddenly think how quickly the time passed to bring me to that place where my great passions and the great needs of the world met. "
-Tric Morris
"Only let us live up to what we have already attained."
-Philippians 3:16
"You have stolen my heart, my sister, my bride; you have stolen my heart with one glance of your eyes..."
-God
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