Starting Something New

I love to talk out loud.  It helps me to talk things through.  I love to talk to God when I go for a walk or when I'm working in the garden by myself, though that has not happened for years.  I remember it though.  God changed me forever through those genuine talks about His Word and His Way.

I've been busy though.  Distracted.  I hate to confess it, but it's true.  God says in His Word that "if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us of our sins and cleanse us (or purify us) from all unrighteousness."  That's 1 John 1:9.  His Word also says in James 5:16 that we should "confess our sins to each other and pray for each other so that you (we) may be healed.  The prayers of a righteous person is powerful and effective."

So, I confess it to God, who already knew, and I confess it to you, my brothers and sisters in Christ, that I have been too busy and distracted lately to spend time with God.  Sure, I talk to Him all the time.  I believe His Word.  I know He's there and I know He cares.  What I have not done consistently is to read His Word daily and spend that one on one time with Him daily before I dive into all the craziness of life, and it shows.  Life has been CRAZY.

I have been stressed and anxious about many things, and I know that I do not need to be anxious about anything.  I've been fighting fear and anger on my own.  Let me tell you: It does not work!  I know my God loves me and He doesn't want this for me or for anyone.  My stress has made me sick.  God healed me, but I have turned my focus on other things and so I have not trusted Him.  Now I have to struggle with asthma again, and early arthritis, and a few food sensitivities.  Not cool!

I will share my prayers here for two reasons.  One, it is easier for me to focus and actually get to the and of everything I want to say if I am writing it down and have to complete my thoughts.  Two, I think it could be good for some to see what prayer looks like.  It's a conversation with our Father in heaven who wants us to have a genuine relationship with Him.  It's not a ritual.  It's not just a religious thing that Christians do, at least it shouldn't be.  It's genuine conversation with Someone who loves us so much that He sent His Son to show us what life with the Father looks like and also to be the sacrifice for our sins so that we could be reconciled with the Father and live forever with Him.

Lord,
Thank You for this time to meditate on Your Word and to talk to You about the things that really matter.  Make Your thoughts my thought, and make Your ways my ways.  Help me to keep my eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of my faith.  Lead me in paths of righteousness for Your name's sake.  I want to be like You, Jesus.  I want to lay my life down so that I can truly live and so others will know the love of God and be saved from sin, saved from being eternally separated from Your love and Your presence.  God, I know You called me to do specific works, which You prepared in advance for me to do.  Help me to do all things with a right heart and a right spirit.  Thank You for giving me Your Spirit and for helping me to be able to do right, even in the face of hardship.  Help me to truly love those people who are prickly and offensive.  Help me to love those who do wrong and bring pain to the people around them.  Help me to be willing to forgive others, just as You have forgiven me.  I know that I can not hold anything against anyone because You have forgiven me everything.  Thank You, Father, for never leaving me or forsaking me.  Thank You that when I do wrong, You purpose to teach me.  You tell me, "This is the way.  Walk in it."  You are patient with me, and I am thankful.  Keep teaching me.  Keep growing me.  Keep discipling me to be ever more like my precious Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Thank You, God.  Thank You for hearing me when I cry out to You.  I love You, Lord.  I love You with all my heart and am thankful for all the beauty that has come into our lives ever since I learned to seek first Your kingdom and Your righteousness.  I learned that You are love.  I learned that You heal the brokenhearted.  I learned that You are compassionate.  You are to be feared because You have the power to throw us all in hell, and we deserve it, but perfect love casts out all fear, and You are perfect love.  You made a way for us.  You reconciled us with Your own blood, the blood of Jesus Christ.  How wonderful!  How marvelous is Your love for me!  Good night, God.  I'll keep the conversation going and I'll be back tomorrow.