On this day? I got nothing. Nada. Zip. That's what I said when my prayer partner and I met on the phone to review our Bible chapter reading for the day. She laughed and then told me the verses that had caught her eye. Nothing earth-shattering. Just - I found verse 2 interesting. Verse 2. Had to go back and look - what WAS verse 2 anyway? Hmmmm....
Out of basic conversational courtesy really, I responded something to the effect of: Oh right, I can see that...
And over the course of 15 minutes we chatted about the chapter. When there was no more chatting - one of us said: Maybe we should pray now? So we did. One at a time. I hung up. 30 minutes - done. Back to my desk.
Once again, I found myself marveling at how I could enter that time with nothing - I mean NOTHING - and leave feeling refreshed, buoyed, reconnected spiritually.
One day I mentioned this to my prayer partner. She laughed and said - I thought that was just ME! Together we came to the awareness of the beautiful softness and gentleness of the Holy Spirit during our times together. Yes - it still takes being intentional to meet. EVERY SINGLE TIME it is worth it and the Lord gives me the strength/discipline to do it.
Sunday morning Bible Study. EVERY SINGLE TIME it is an effort to go. We just barely make it with a minute to spare. After a year. And yet? EVERY SINGLE TIME it is worth it. I am blessed and so glad I went. Our Sunday goes more gently - the Spirit is renewed in our hearts as a family.
Tuesday/Wednesday/Friday 6:00am prayer time. EVERY time - it takes an effort and the temptation to sleep lurks at the edge of my consciousness... EVERY time - I hang up really glad I attended.
Roger's Tuesday Noon prayer time. EVERY single time - work commitments cause me to think it will be impossible to attend. In fact, I had to take the time to completely redo my work schedule and cancel meetings to signal to the evil one I had a made-up-mind about this. Now, I claim His Word in Psalms 55:17-18. I remind myself God is my employer, my king and I go. EVERY time - I am blessed.
Dear Jesus - Your Spirit is amazing. It is soft, gentle, consistent, loving, persistent not pushy - and I praise You for that. I confess I need Your strength, Your discipline. In fact, I need You to keep me close to You! Reveal Yourself to me today afresh. Bring me into an accountable spiritual relationship with someone for 2014 and I thank You for doing for me what I cannot do for myself....
No comments:
Post a Comment
Your comments will be viewable upon approval. Thanks!