"I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 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."
Do you ever have those moments when you're reading a scripture you've read a thousand times, or listening to your favorite worship song, or sitting in a service listening to a sermon, and you have an "aha!" moment...Nothing being heard or read is actually new, but you understand it in a new way. I think that's what this verse is talking about. It's not just about beginning a relationship with God, it's about deepening that relationship. (For those of you Nacho fans, it's about getting down "to the nitty gritty"!) And it comes through the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, which enlightens us to the things of God!
How awesome that God will honor that request to know Him more. Because isn't that what He wants for us and from us anyway?! It's like asking a loving parent if you can be just like him/her when you grow up! Of course they're going to say yes! That's their heart's desire too. And I truly believe that's the heart of God: that we would long to know Him more and yearn to know the things only His Spirit can reveal!
As I read this verse this morning I felt the Holy Spirit prompt me, "Pray this for your family. Pray this for your friends. Pray this for those who don't know me." And I ask that you too would pray it for me.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Friday, August 29, 2008
What I've Been Learning
It seems lately God's been speaking to me a lot...not in the way I'm used to though. A couple weeks ago Josh and I were at Barnes and Noble looking for a gift and out of the blue this woman stopped us because she felt she had a word for us. And it was right on. I've also been listening to some new teaching CDs I got a hold of, and it's so like "Omigosh! This is exactly what I needed to hear!" Then I was driving home from an event the other day with some girlfriends, sharing with them some of the stuff that's been going on in my life, and one of them says, "Hold on, God just gave me a word for you."
A couple things have really been impressed upon me through this: 1) God knows all about me! He created me to be me and you to be you. He knows every detail, thought, heartache. He knows what I need and when I need it...even if it is in the middle of Barnes and Noble! He's thinking about, watching, and caring for me, even when I can't feel it. My Lord is an intimate God. He is not far away and unreachable, He's "closer than the mention of His name," as the song goes... 2) He is ALMIGHTY GOD! He is so strong and big and awesome. He is to be feared and honored. There truly is none like Him! In Malachi 1: 14 He says of himself, "I am a great king...and my name is feared among the nations!"
I believe sometimes it's easy to rely on either one or the other aspect of who God is, but He really is both. He's the God of all justice, God of wrath, He rides on the wings of the wind, a jealous God! Yet He's slow to anger and rich in love, God of all mercy, one who bids us come into His throne room with boldness. How awesome is it that we can find comfort in the very one who holds the power of life and death! That we can fear Him without being afraid of Him! That He is all love and all powerful!
What an awesome God we truly do serve!
*There is a great song by Jeff Deyo that illustrates this concept called I Fear You from his CD entitled "Light". If you listen to the end of the track right before the song you'll hear an awesome explanation of where the song comes from.
A couple things have really been impressed upon me through this: 1) God knows all about me! He created me to be me and you to be you. He knows every detail, thought, heartache. He knows what I need and when I need it...even if it is in the middle of Barnes and Noble! He's thinking about, watching, and caring for me, even when I can't feel it. My Lord is an intimate God. He is not far away and unreachable, He's "closer than the mention of His name," as the song goes... 2) He is ALMIGHTY GOD! He is so strong and big and awesome. He is to be feared and honored. There truly is none like Him! In Malachi 1: 14 He says of himself, "I am a great king...and my name is feared among the nations!"
I believe sometimes it's easy to rely on either one or the other aspect of who God is, but He really is both. He's the God of all justice, God of wrath, He rides on the wings of the wind, a jealous God! Yet He's slow to anger and rich in love, God of all mercy, one who bids us come into His throne room with boldness. How awesome is it that we can find comfort in the very one who holds the power of life and death! That we can fear Him without being afraid of Him! That He is all love and all powerful!
What an awesome God we truly do serve!
*There is a great song by Jeff Deyo that illustrates this concept called I Fear You from his CD entitled "Light". If you listen to the end of the track right before the song you'll hear an awesome explanation of where the song comes from.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Refining...ouch!
Isn't it crazy how you ask God for something and then forget that you asked until it comes... I'm not talking about "God please give me a million dollars" kind of prayers, or even asking for "things" kind of prayers... but when we pray things like, "Lord, help me to grow up in this area" or "Help me change the way I think about that situation"...
When people say that God doesn't answer prayers, I think "Well, clearly they've never asked for patience!" Those are the kinds of prayers I'm talking about. Ones that slip out in a moment of spiritual clarity, usually prompted by the Holy Spirit, and we forget about them. Then things start happening, things that produce patience, or growth, or changes. And we start asking, "What is going on?! Why am I going through this? God where are you? Why are you pulling away?..."
I love that God isn't afraid to bring situations into our lives that could either drive us away or pull us toward Him. He's willing to let us stumble around for a while, or for a really long time, until we come to the point where we realize He's all we need -- again, for the millionth time. God loves to grow us, to change us to become more like Him, to nurture the fruit of the Spirit in us. He always answers the prayers that agree with what He's already got planned for us, for our benefit, and with His heart for us.
He loves us.
So the next time you find yourself there, in that place where you feel lost, alone, desperate, and you're asking, "What is going on?" Look back and see if there wasn't a prayer...a thought...a cry. When the situation's tough, and you ask God to grow you through it, know that the storm may rage a bit longer than you expected. But when you come out, you'll be as pure silver, refined by the great I AM for His name, and His renown!
When people say that God doesn't answer prayers, I think "Well, clearly they've never asked for patience!" Those are the kinds of prayers I'm talking about. Ones that slip out in a moment of spiritual clarity, usually prompted by the Holy Spirit, and we forget about them. Then things start happening, things that produce patience, or growth, or changes. And we start asking, "What is going on?! Why am I going through this? God where are you? Why are you pulling away?..."
I love that God isn't afraid to bring situations into our lives that could either drive us away or pull us toward Him. He's willing to let us stumble around for a while, or for a really long time, until we come to the point where we realize He's all we need -- again, for the millionth time. God loves to grow us, to change us to become more like Him, to nurture the fruit of the Spirit in us. He always answers the prayers that agree with what He's already got planned for us, for our benefit, and with His heart for us.
He loves us.
So the next time you find yourself there, in that place where you feel lost, alone, desperate, and you're asking, "What is going on?" Look back and see if there wasn't a prayer...a thought...a cry. When the situation's tough, and you ask God to grow you through it, know that the storm may rage a bit longer than you expected. But when you come out, you'll be as pure silver, refined by the great I AM for His name, and His renown!
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Hmm...
Do you ever find yourself at a loss for words....It is very rare for me, but as I pray and think about what God has and wants from me, that's exactly where I find myself. Someone gave me a "word" the other day -- something she felt God wanted her to say to me. I love it when that happens! As she shared it with me my first response was an emotional one, but then I found myself asking, "Is this really for me? God what does this mean?" And it's been stirring in my spirit ever since. It's not that I don't believe it was for me or that I don't want to receive it, it's just that it remains unclear.
I love when God does that...we ask Him to speak to us and He does, but then we're even more in the dark as to what He means. And so I find myself seeking Him more. Asking Him more and for more. And if that is all that this "word" has brought about then it was worth it. But I'm unsettled in my heart and in my spirit. I am longing and discontent with where I find myself spiritually. And I am at a loss for words. No words to write. No words to sing. No words to pray. Just silence.
I guess that's not always a bad thing. Sometimes I think that is God's goal with us -- to get us to the place where all we can do is listen. All we can do is think about what He might want from us. All we can do is ask for more.
O God, do not keep silent; be not quiet, O God, be not still. Psalm 83:1
I love when God does that...we ask Him to speak to us and He does, but then we're even more in the dark as to what He means. And so I find myself seeking Him more. Asking Him more and for more. And if that is all that this "word" has brought about then it was worth it. But I'm unsettled in my heart and in my spirit. I am longing and discontent with where I find myself spiritually. And I am at a loss for words. No words to write. No words to sing. No words to pray. Just silence.
I guess that's not always a bad thing. Sometimes I think that is God's goal with us -- to get us to the place where all we can do is listen. All we can do is think about what He might want from us. All we can do is ask for more.
O God, do not keep silent; be not quiet, O God, be not still. Psalm 83:1
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