Ps 91 (NKJV)

3 Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler, and from the perilous pestilence.4 He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler.5 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day,6 nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

"P" is for...

Ordinary Lives. From a 2 z 4 u & me



...Prayer

I have been reading a book on Prayer lately by Paul Miller called "A Praying Life: Connecting with God in a Distracting World." I'm not finished with it yet, but it is Powerful.

Had you asked me a few weeks ago if I was a cynic, I would have said, "No, absolutely not." But you know what? I am to a certain extent - or, at least, I have become one in the last couple of years. Dictionary.com defines cynic as  "a person who believes that only selfishness motivates human actions and who disbelieves in or minimizes selfless acts or disinterested points of view." Mr. Miller believes (and I agree) that many of us, as Christians, teeter on the edge of being cynical. We sometimes feel defeated with weariness. We feel numb toward life. But we have not lost all hope.

I have withdrawn myself from "feeling" because it causes pain. But the withdrawing also causes pain, not only to me but to those around me. It is a cycle that I am TRYING desperately to break.
Mr. Miller states that Jesus offers us six cures out of a life of cynicism. I will list them briefly - for more information, please see his book.
  1. Be warm but wary
  2. Learn to hope again
  3. Cultivate a childlike spirit
  4. Cultivate a thankful spirit
  5. Cultivate repentance
  6. Developing an eye for Jesus
Mr. Miller also suggests praying Scripture, specifically the 23rd Psalm. I haven't done that yet, but as I continue to fight this battle, I will be referring to it often. It may not be a battle for my soul/spirit, but it is a battle for my life and Jesus has promised me an abundant life. I receive that promise as my own and am going to fight to have it, with his help.
Thank you Jesus for your promises. Thank you for the ability to pray powerfully in your name. Amen.
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7 comments:

  1. Shelley LedforsSeptember 6, 2011 at 2:02 PM

    Wow. There's a lot to think about here. If I ever get my "to read" list whittled down to a manageable size, the book you referenced seems like a great one.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Patty WysongSeptember 6, 2011 at 2:40 PM

    Yes, much here to think about. Like you, I wouldn't have said I was a cynic, but I know sometimes I am.

    ReplyDelete
  3. SparrowSeptember 6, 2011 at 3:09 PM

    Great post! I get overwhelmed with all the requests sometimes, and then feel guilty that I don't remember to pray for everything.

    ReplyDelete
  4. PencildancersSeptember 6, 2011 at 6:43 PM

    Excellent post. I didn't have a name for what I've become. Weary says it all.
    Diana
    www.pencildancer.com

    ReplyDelete
  5. Barbara Lynn CullerSeptember 6, 2011 at 7:08 PM

    It seems that sometimes I'm forced to become cynical because what I trusted was thrown back into my face. Guess there is a fine line.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Sara HarricharanSeptember 8, 2011 at 1:21 PM

    Wow. That is wonderful. Thank you for sharing that. I think I am more of a cynic than I care to admit. :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Ginger SolomonSeptember 8, 2011 at 1:28 PM

    Thank you all for commenting. It's nice to know I am not alone in my struggle, and that I can help you know you're not alone as well. We will fight the "good fight of faith" together.

    ReplyDelete

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