Tag: philippans

Refocused

Good morning! How are you?! Enjoying your summer so far I hope. I have missed this.

Distraction. What does it take to become distracted? Is it always something wrong? I suppose if it takes your attention from the Lord, it is an idol in a way. What about discouragement; does discouragement distract you?

It’s distracted me. I’m not going through a process of identity confusion or backsliding. I know truth and I love our faithful Jesus. I’m just discouraged. I’ve let whispers of negativity tie my hands; then allowed busyness to distract me from fighting it. I just lost focus.

I was approached recently by a friend, and she asked me about my writing. She asked if I had written anything recently because she wasn’t getting her email notifications. That was so encouraging, knowing that she eagerly joins me in this journey. [It was also confirming what the Holy Spirit had been stirring in me. I knew I had not written, and I knew I was neglecting this ministry.] But, the part that really stood out to me was that she said she felt like she was experiencing the things that I was writing about and found it encouraging that someone else was too. I found just as much encouragement and comfort in knowing I was not alone in this stuff as she did. It was that same warm, fuzzy feeling I get when you leave comments on the posts, or share encouraging texts and conversations with me. God is good.

So for her- and for the rest of you in this online community God wove together, and for myself- I’m moving forward. Refocusing.

It is difficult. I have to tell you I’ve sat down several times determined to reach out and just couldn’t come up with the words. However, I realized last night I was searching myself for them and not seeking God’s. This makes me feel super vulnerable to admit, but I promised myself I would be authentic through this. So, here I am. Asking for your mercy as well as the Lord’s before I go any further. Hoping that even if you haven’t experienced this before, you can understand what I am describing.

Father, forgive me for being selfish with your gift. Thank you those that push me along in love. Forgive me for neglecting this time together.

“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:12-14

Now let’s kick that dust off our heels and get to walking together and explore God’s word. I love you and I thank you. Talk to you soon!

Prayer

Good morning and happy FriYAY! I don’t know about you but I am so very ready for this weekend. I am fortunate to have a fun one ahead with friends enjoying this warm Florida weather. How are you planning to spend yours? I hope you are getting this sunshine as well!

Philippians 4:6, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God.” Paul is kicking us off this morning in his letter to the people of Philippi. These are instructions on prayer.

Prayer in it’s simplest form is communication with God. There is power within it. Jesus himself prayed all the time. I am currently exploring prayer myself. Don’t get me wrong, being a believer most of my life, I have always prayed. However, lately it has been a little different. I tend to spend a lot of time talking to the Holy Spirit these days. Personally, I think that is part of why I am in a season of alone-ness (being by myself a lot with the Lord, not being lonely- there is a big difference). To be honest, I am figuring out how to do it. I go through a lot of “I don’t know what to pray right now” moments.

I am torn between whether or not I should be praying for exactly what I want right now or not. Sometimes I feel selfish for doing that because there are so many hurting people around me. Also, I don’t know that what I want is within the will of God. However, in writing to you this morning, I experienced an ah-hah moment. I love those!

Ah-hah Moment: When I get wrapped up in what I should and should not pray, I am acting like a Pharisee. First of all, God knows my heart and the desires in it. So, praying those desires only begins a conversation with him about it. It is an act of obedience and faith in inviting him into the situation. Second, succumbing to the anxiety about what is politically correct to pray is not trusting God to respond. It is idolizing law without grace or relationship. Which totally disregards the cross. Lord, forgive me and thank you for grace!

Intercessory is something we are called to do. I believe as Christ followers, it is our responsibility to lift others up in prayer. Pray for your lost loved ones. Pray for the broken, hurting and confused. I think the most genuine act of love you can show toward a person is presenting their pain or issue to the Creator of life and asking him to infuse grace and peace in it. Jesus prayed for us all the time, even when we hurt him. Was it because God did not know us or love us? No. It is because Jesus did. His intercession was an act of love just as ours is.

As I was reading this morning, I came across Romans 8:26-27. Read that passage with me.

Friends, just as Jesus, the Son of Man, interceded for us while he was on earth, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us when we do not know what to pray. He knows us- our desires, our pain, our needs (Psalm 139). So, he prays to the Father on our behalf.

Thank you Lord for wanting relationship with us so badly that you sent the Helper (see John 14:26).

If you are at a place similar to what I confessed I was experiencing where you don’t know what to pray: praise. He inhabits our praise. Paul said with thanksgiving present requests. Thank God for being who he is because he deserves all praise for simply being who he is!

“I Am who I Am” Exodus 3:14. We serve the God; the only one. He is both intimate and infinite, and he love us so much. I am overwhelmed with peace and purpose just entertaining the thought. Talk with him today. If you don’t know what to say, ask the Holy Spirit dwelling in you to speak on your behalf.

Enjoy your weekend and remember that you are loved!