Laced With Grace

As church going, Bible believing Christians, we know that prayer is vital to our faith. But, I wonder sometimes if we have lost sight of how powerful prayer can be. We give it lip service all the time, saying, “Oh, I’ll pray for you” whenever someone is in the midst of trials. And some of us really do, but many of us lift up a quick prayer and go on with our day (maybe I’m just talking about myself here!) I don’t know why prayer seems so hard sometimes, because I have experienced what a sweet pleasure it can (and should) be.
There are the ladies who have notebooks full of prayer requests and they faithfully pray through those lists daily. There are those few who show up the monthly church prayer meeting and there are the dedicated ones on the prayer chain. But, for many of us, the demands of life can crowd out prayer time.
Even in my quiet moments set aside each morning, thoughts of to-do lists and my agenda for the day can overtake any true meditation. Some days, it just feels like I’m trying to wake up and check this off my list.
So, how do we regain our passion for prayer? I am trying a few different things to remind me of the amazing gift we’ve been given.
First, I’m praying out loud. It’s harder to get distracted that way! I’m also praying through the Scriptures. I read a verse and then rephrase it in my own words and use it spur on praise and intercession. It helps my prayers to stay focused.
Second, I’m praying more often. I’m reminding myself to pray in the morning, at noon and in the evening. And, I’m not just praying through a list, but taking these times to talk with Jesus, to share with Him the burdens of my day and to thank Him for the gifts He so graciously gives.
Third, I’m praying with others. There is an unmistakable power found in corporate prayer. When we pray over each other, we bless one another. When we agree with each other in prayer, our communion with Christ and each other grows.
And most importantly, I’m reminded that prayer isn’t something that I should have on my to do list, but time to spend with my savior. If that means I need more time so I can set aside the cares of the world before I can see Him clearly, then I will give it more time. It is the most important thing I can do each day!

I grew up in the southwest, where the sun shines daily, no matter what the season is. It will snow multiple feet in the mountains on one day but on the next, the warmth of the sun will melt most of the accumlation and brighten up the skies.

Since I’ve moved to the midwest, I’ve noticed the high percentage of grey days and the lack of blue skies on a regular basis. I don’t mind the subzero temperatures or the piles and piles of snow that accompany this time of year. It’s the lack of sunshine that starts to really get to me.

You know it’s bad when the sunshine retuns one day and it seems too bright in your squinting eyes. But, I do enjoy those days and find myself scooting closer to a nearby window to soak up some more rays of sunshine. I’m often known to go on long walks in -20 degree weather just because the sun is out. It’s bitter cold, but the sunshine warms my soul.

I notice that when I don’t spend as much time soak up God’s rays of SONshine, I also have some side effects. The days seem grey and dark. I make it through, but miss the light of meaning and purpose that comes from a deep fulfilling relationship with my Savior. When I’m going through a “grey” time, I also sense the eyes of my heart squinting against the brightness of God’s truth. It sounds foreign when I haven’t been walking in His light for a while.

So, as I look forward to some sunny days ahead, I am reminded to focus my eyes on the real source of light, Jesus. May the rays of His love brighten your cold winter day today!

Soaking up His light,
Heather

The children run around the room wildly,their monkey-like behaviors creating the illusion of a jungle in our church.  During prayer they are chatting with neighbors, squirming out of their seats, giggling and forgetting the purpose of the evening.  At school, they take without asking, tell tall tales to friends and speak unkindly of others when adults aren’t listening. 

Sometimes I wonder if they really know Who God is…the God of the Universe, worthy of honor and praise.  Our Awesome God, inspiring reverence and causing men to fall to their knees in worship.

Christians who ought to know better, whose lives should look different from the world, are caught up in adultery, slander, cheating on taxes, and living immoral and godless lives.  Why, if we know the Savior of the world, are our lives not changed? 

Sometimes I wonder if we really know Who God is…the God who transforms lives.  The God who makes us new and gives us His own power to overcome this world!

People wander this world in search of hope and hungry for meaning outside of their shallow lives.  The whole Christianity thing seems like just another set of rules to follow or a complete sham that just makes us feel better about ourselves. 

I wonder if they really knew Who God is…the God whose love reaches out and bridges the gap of human inadequacy with supernatural grace, Amazing Grace.  Do they know what it cost our loving God to purchase our freedom and to save us from the wretched consequences of our sins? 

We cheapen the amazing nature of God’s forgiveness when we imagine that He is just a forgiving God, so He overlooks our sins and weaknesses.  He’s a big grandfather in the sky who pretends He doesn’t notice our blatant rebellion against Him and our desperate inability to ever reach His holy expectations. 

I wonder what would happen when we put our eyes on the reality of our God, His vastness, His enormity, His overwhelming power.   And yet His passionate pursuit of His people brought Him to pay the ultimate price, to empty Himself of all this to submit to the torture of humans in order to rescue us from these same horrors.  He paid an enormous price for this amazing grace that I receive.  He gave it all just for me.

When I see who God really is, in all His awesome might and His tender mercy, my attitudes, thoughts, behaviors are all dramatically altered.  I can no longer be the same when I am in His midst.  When I am walking in the brightness of His light, my life is changed.  My God is so BIG, and my life reflects His touch in my life. 

Ephesians 1:18-21

I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,  

When we see Who He is, what things will change for us? 

Keeping my eyes wide open,

Heather