This summer I prayed about what passage to study, and all I heard in my mind was Galations. It was obvious that I needed it. The Lord has taught me so much in the last 2 months of my life.
I was recently sitting with my family on my parent's back porch. My Dad was commenting on a tree in our backyard that would not grow, no matter what he did! He trimmed it and watered it. Nothing. He said that a few years ago, he just had had enough and hacked it all the way to the ground! Then he looked at me and said, "and look at it now, its grown into a beautiful tree." He would not know how much that describes my life in the last year. God has pruned me, hacked me down and stripped me. All to begin sin awareness and ultimately new growth. Galations talks of living dead to your old ways and walking in the spirit. Also, Romans 8. God will take us through whatever it takes to conform us to the image of His Son. He calls that our good. May we see His discipline as a friend, our good.
Read Galations and Romans 8 this summer if you are looking for a place to start.
This is quite personal, but I thought that it might encourage some.
My summer prayer:
Dear Father,
Praise to You who know so well what to do with me.
I praise You for Your sovereign plan to do GOOD
and by that you mean conformity to Your precious Son, our treasure, Jesus Christ.
Help me to accept Your good intention for You've promised good to me.
Satisfy me in Your lovingkindness, that I may be glad all of my days.
Forgive me for sinning against You in lust, bitterness, jealousy and selfishness.
Help me to live in freedom, not in bondage, for I am set free of sin!
Adopted into Your inheritance, Your child, redeemed for Your pleasure.
Take my singleness and use it for Your glory.
May I accept what You have for me in this time
whether it be dessert or mountain top.
May I prove, over and over, Your goodness to me.
Help me fulfill Your law by loving others as I love myself.
Grant me the ability to think of others instead of wallow in self-pity.
Forgive me for that.
Turn these wasted years into restored goodness.
Strengthen me in Your Word. For Your Word is good.
Help me to die daily, recognizing what it means to be crucified with Christ,
putting off the flesh and living by faith in the Son of God
who loved me and delivered Himself up for me.
Thank You for grace.
Summer 2009.
My beginning journey out of the pit.
3 comments:
Exactly what I needed to read.
Here's to summer 2009...may it be a turn around.
Thanks, Merea.
merea,
thank you for sharing your words, your thoughts, your heart, your journey.
your prayer is heartwarmingly honest. I think that it is so encouraging to think of what "goodness" God has planned for your life! for someone who so desires to to grow and be changed by him. your journey will be so amazing!
you challenge me...
Beautifully written. I only take exception with 4 words: "He would not know"
Love ya much.
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