A while back a good friend of mine posted a prayer in the form of a poetic list of things that He wanted the Lord to teach Him. His list made me think about what I'd want the Lord to teach me, and I adjusted his to make my own. This prayer is a written form of my list. 

Dear Lord, 

Teach me to pray trustingly and act accordingly. 

In all my interactions make me love selflessly, speak kindly, and share Your joy and truth indiscriminately.

Especially help me in my relationship with You.

Teach me to study deeply and memorize scripture consistently; 

to surrender continually and abide unceasingly. 

Renew my mind to think clearly, engage fully, and focus singly.

Daily help me to use my time wisely and work whole-heartedly in what You've called me to do.

Give me contagious enthusiasm, especially for spiritual things.

When I don't see Your plan, remind me to rest confidently and wait patiently.

In all things, may I give thanks daily and sacrifice cheerfully.

Review with me what You've taught me in the past so that I won't forget it;

show me how to apply it now.

Guide me to prepare for the future,

and give me the strength I need to fight to the death (of self) today.

I ask in Jesus name,

Amen

“And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” Matthew 21:22

My Vision

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light. 

Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

High King of Heaven, my victory won,
May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heaven’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.

Dear Father,

Let this song be my prayer. Focuss my eyes on only Your Son. Be with me always, and live in my heart. Teach me to love You first and best - more than anything else. When constantly beholding You has completely changed me into Your image, please take me home. Heart of my own heart, whatever befall, still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.

I'm asking by faith in Jesus name,
Amen.

He Promised

"In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began,"..."let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)"..."being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he [is] able also to perform,"..."and this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life," (Titus 1:2; Hebrews 10:23; Romans 4:21; 1 John 2:25).

"Christ is able to do all that he has promised to do for the sin-sick soul. Those who have an experimental knowledge of Christ can testify to his faithfulness and truth. We may have an appreciation of our sinfulness, and realize that we are full of uncleanness, but as the light of heaven reveals the heart's depravity, we should not become discouraged, for there is help in Jesus for the vilest sinner. The promises of God are for all who will accept them, and Jesus says, Come, and I will give you rest. He does not say, Come, and perhaps I will give you rest, but the promise is positive, "Ye shall find rest." As we take his yoke, and learn of him, we find sweet solace in his promises, and our hope of eternal life grows stronger and brighter."  

    "I have seen persons in trouble, who, instead of looking to Jesus, kept looking at their trouble, kept talking of their discouragements, and kept dwelling upon their trials. Why did they not comply with the invitation of Jesus? Why did they not come to him? It was because they had a divided heart; but God wants the whole heart. When we are in trial and sadness, we must look to Jesus. We must take our sorrow to the Lord in prayer; for he has said, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." Why is it that we do not comply with the conditions upon which the promises are based? We have a precious Saviour, and he knows our trials before we present them before him. He loves us with a love that is infinite, and he will do for us all that he has promised to do. We need not walk in darkness. We need not go on in uncertainty. We are willing to believe what our friends tell us, then why not believe the word of our best Friend? Why not take God at his word? Why not "come" and find rest unto our souls, according to the invitation and promise of Jesus?" {ST, January 19, 1891 par. 7-8}.

"Lay hold on eternal life. Come to Jesus in faith. Ask, and ye shall receive. The forgiveness of sins is promised to him who repents, justification to him who believes, and the crown of life to him who is faithful unto death," {7BC 916.5}.  

Radical

This is a link to a blog that realized, confirmed, and verbalized much of what I've been feeling these past months in Timor. Read it, and may it change your life.

Radical

Strength for Today

     "As thy days, so shall thy strength be," (Deuteronomy 33:25). 

     I thank the Lord for the assurance of His grace, that is for His people now, today.... The promise is not that we will have strength today for a future emergency, that anticipated future trouble will be provided for beforehand, before it comes to us. We may, if we walk by faith, expect strength and provision for us as fast as our circumstances demand it. We live by faith, not by sight. The Lord's arrangement is for us to ask Him for the very things that we need. The grace of tomorrow will not be given today. Men's necessity is God's opportunity. . . . The grace of God is never given to be squandered, to be misapplied or perverted, or to be left to rust with disuse....
     While you are bearing daily responsibilities in the love and fear of God, as obedient children walking in all humility of mind, strength and wisdom from God will be given to meet every trying circumstance.
     We will not be able to meet the trials of this time without God. We are not to have the courage and fortitude of martyrs of old until brought into the position they were in. . . . We are to receive daily supplies of grace for each daily emergency. Thus we grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, and if persecution comes upon us, if we must be enclosed in prison walls for the faith of Jesus and the keeping of God's holy law, "As thy days, so shall thy strength be." Should there be a return of persecution there would be grace given to arouse every energy of the soul to show a true heroism....
     We are to keep close to the Source of our strength day by day, and when the enemy comes in like a flood the Spirit of the Lord lifts up a standard for us against the enemy. The promise of God is sure, that strength shall be proportioned to our day. We may be confident for the future only in the strength that is given for the present necessities. The experience in God is daily becoming more precious. . . . Do not borrow anxiety for the future. It is today that we are in need. . . . The Lord is our helper, our God, and our strength in every time of need.

-Our High Calling by E.G. White, Chapt. 119

...

Therefore, "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)." "And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life," (Hebrews 10:23; 1 John 2:25). 

Faith2

"Keep looking unto Jesus, offering up silent prayers in faith, taking hold of His strength, whether you have any manifest feeling or not. Go right forward as if every prayer offered was lodged in the throne of God and responded to by the One whose promises never fail. Go right along, singing and making melody to God in your hearts, even when depressed by a sense of weight and sadness. I tell you as one who knows, light will come, joy will be ours, and the mists and clouds will be rolled back. And we pass from the oppressive power of the shadow and darkness into the clear sunshine of His presence." —Lt 7, 1892. (Selected Messages 2:242, 243.) – 2MCP 538.1

Does anyone else out there have a clue how hard this is?

For me, it is utter conflict. The war inside me between what I feel and see and what is easiest for me, against what I know and want and what He desires of me, is like a constant roller-coaster. One second I'm resting peacefully in His arms, and the next I'm clawing for a handhold like a drowning cat. The peace and joy I have when surrendered and walking by faith is beyond words, but I find that the line between that peace and joy and self reliance is a fine one. 


This is a poem-y song thing that I wrote with those thoughts in mind... (keep in mind that it is a little dramatic/metaphorical sometimes)

Lord, I can't even think about tomorrow.

My world is too heavy for me.

Didn't You lead me into this valley?

Don't leave me! Please carry my sorrow.

I can't walk any further in my own strength,

But I don't know how to let You pick me up.

No, I don't know how You can pick me up...

I can't let go; I don't know how.

I'm an over-achiever, a straight A student,

I'm a musician and a morning person;

I'm disciplined.

But all the discipline in the world can't grant me joy in the life You've given, 

Can't change me into the person You want me to be, 

Can't make my life worth living.

Haven't I surrendered before?

What are You doing to me?

Why do You make my heart hurt so bad?

Can't You see all the things I've done for You!

And as I turn my head to show You

All around are filthy rags.

Yes, all around are filthy rags...

And that is why my heart hurts,

It's why life's not worth living.

All my plans are out of control

It looks like the devil's winning. 

And all the good my effort has made

Is nothing more than filthy rags,

Yeah, it's nothing more than filthy rags...

But I can't let go; I don't know how.

I'm a gluten-free vegan, an exercise lover,

I'm a Seventh Day Adventist and a canvasser;

I'm disciplined.

But all the discipline in the world can't grant me joy in the life You've given, 

Can't change me into the person You want me to be, 

Can't make my life worth living.

So I'm giving my life to You once more,

I'll take a deep breath and surrender again.

Start at the bottom and work to the top

Search me through, I'm inside out.

I'm looking to You, holding on to Your strength,

And I'm walking by faith not by sight,

Yes, I'll walk by faith not by sight. 

I'm letting go; You hold me now.

You're the Prince of Peace, a Promise-Keeper,

The Son of God. You gave Your life.

I'm surrendered.

Cause only full surrender will grant me joy in the life You've given,

Will change me into the person You want me to be,

Will make my life worth living.

You're living in me.

Faith

This is a link to the blog of a dear friend of mine. I know, without a doubt, that the song she posted today was a message of encouragement meant especially for me from my Lord. My prayer is that it will be an encouragement to you as well.

Faith

Blessings!

-Katie :)