Lord, I just pray that…
Lord, I pray that You would just…
The word just crept into my prayer vocabulary without much notice—but now, when spoken, it becomes as obvious as the three earsplitting screeches heard when the Emergency Broadcast System conducts their weekly test, no doubt during a favorite show.
After all, consider the definition:
Just: adv [dʒʌst (unstressed) dʒəst] no more than; merely
My prayers were actually saying: “Lord, I merely pray that…”
As Christ-followers we’re given freedom to pray for all things (from the smallest of desires to the deepest of struggles.) Our prayers, however, are not ushered into the presence of One who desires to do “just enough” in the lives of His people.
Perhaps there’s no one word in your prayer life that triggers such a thought, but have you considered that you too may be asking God for just enough of something instead of praying in expectation for God to do something amazing?
The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
Experiencing the wonder of God isn’t about landing a crazy story
to tell our friends or experiencing pimply goose bumps.
The wonder awakens us to dive even deeper
in our relationship with God.
– Margaret Feinberg, Wonderstruck, Awaken to the Nearness of God
In preparing to facilitate Wonderstruck next week, I consider Revelation 2:4 ESV:
But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.
Remember how it felt when you first began falling for your husband, wife, boyfriend or girlfriend? The relationship had a sense of awe about it. We clung to their every word, spiffed up our wardrobe, flossed a little longer, and smelled, well…quite nice.
But over time elasticized sweats, increased volume via headphones, and a lack o’ floss can tarnish even the brightest of beginnings.
Likewise, when I’m not in step with the Spirit, the wonder and awe of God I first realized and celebrated as a Christ follower can gradually fade against the backdrop of a cluttered life.
Keeping the wonder of God awakened within us requires intentionality and a willingness to refuse the seduction of surface living.
++++++++++++
An invitation to dive deeper: Jot down three moments today in which you encounter the wonder of God and His handiwork.
Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
Summer officially begins June 21 but I’m kicking it off next Monday, June 17, as Rhyme and Reason celebrates a new “season” of its own.
I love to blog! (I hope that goes without saying.)
You—your time—remain at the forefront of my mind when composing each post, which is why I aim for a takeaway but choose to keep most posts brief. Beginning June 17, Rhyme and Reason will launch NEW ideas while holding to the same pattern.
Ideas like giving each day (M-W-F) a summer-related theme to build upon:
Mondays:H₂0, Quenching Your Spiritual Thirst – Stop by and quench your spiritual thirst with a spot of inspiration in the form of a devotion, a photograph, scripture, etc. What better way to begin our week?
Wednesdays: A Poetic Pause – An opportunity to peek in, catch your breath, and be revived. Poetry awaits.
Fridays: Fireflies and Moon Pies™…Celebrating Summer Delights – Guest posts, recommended summer reads, yummy recipes, fun links, giveaways, and who knows what else?
Of course, if the Spirit leads otherwise on a particular day, we’ll follow.
Thank you for your time, your support, your encouragement, and especially your friendship.
Beautiful words stir my heart.
I will recite a lovely poem about the king,
for my tongue is like the pen of a skillful poet.
Psalm 45:1 NLT
To God be the glory…today and always.
Cathy Baker
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