(O.K. I'm a bit slow. Originally had this as a comment under Jen's first post, but now I'm catching on and am reposting. I promise I won't be this redneck all 3 months!)
S - "Consider it all joy, my brethern, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." James 1:2-4
O - I love James b/c it reminds me of a pep talk in the locker room at half time when you are down by 7, all beat up, tired, don't know what else to try, and you want to give up. However, instead of "Remember the Gipper" James chants, "Consider it all JOY!" Not always what I want to hear, but a good reminder that life is more than just the here and now. There is eternal purpose in what we do here on earth.
A - I think one of the ways we are able to "consider it all joy" is by seeing it through God's eyes, and that is done by getting to know Him and talking to Him. The Lord convicted me 2 months ago to rev up my prayer life. The Lord has given me a different attitude towards prayer and its priority in my life. It is certainly pure JOY to see Him answer those prayers!
P - My prayer is that my new found committment to prayer would not diminish, but continue to grow. That my heart would be open to see areas needing change and those attitudes needing adjusting.
How are you being more intentional with your prayer life, it's an area I need to work on.
ReplyDeleteWell Karlyn it started out with a change in my thinking. I told myself I was just going to talk to the Lord like a friend sitting across from me at the dinner table. I wasn't going to get caught up in following a certain list, I was just going to talk about what was on my mind. I love to journal and so I would also write my thoughts out. I numbered my prayer requests and each day I would write a little on each number. I also made it priority by writing in my journal and praying before I got on facebook and before I started exercising in the evenings. That way it for sure got done. I have 10 things on my list right now. I started mid-March and added #10 last night. Two of the items I have been able to completely take off the list b/c the Lord has answered them. It's exciting stuff!
ReplyDeleteI need to start journaling again. There was a time I did and it's so reassuring to go back and see how God has worked through issues.
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