Okay, Lord. Here we go!
There are just days that start off with difficulty after a
long night of tossing and turning, aren’t there? Sleep evades and rest is nowhere to be
found. Do you ever have these
nights? Last night was one of those
nights. I took the advice of a friend
and didn’t look at the clock. Instead,
as I tossed, I prayed, Lord, is there
anyone that you would have me pray for?
As, I turned, I prayed, Father,
is there anything you want to tell me or show me? I guess it is going to be one of those
nights… Okay, Lord. Here we go!
Faces came to mind.
Names flooded in. I asked. I prayed.
I held them before the Lord. So…
sleep wasn’t the gift He gave last night, but He did give His rest to my heart
and I did talk to Him about a great many things.
It was nearly morning, after a short ‘night-nap’, when I
woke with a piece of Scripture flooding into my mind… Ah, I thought, something He must want to tell
me! I meditated on the Word
and said, Thank you, Lord.
When the alarm finally sounded, it was tug and a pull to
yank myself out of bed. Do you ever feel
you just have to coerce yourself out of bed?
Okay, Lord! Here we go! Please sustain me. I could feel His whisper deep within--- His
promise to be with me always. Tired and chilled
by the cold dark, I could feel in my body the roughness of the night’s toss and
turn. One step in front of the other, I
slowly walked out the aches and stumbled tentatively downstairs.
After a quick drink of water, as is my habit and daily
routine, I sat in my living room chair and opened up the PrayAsYouGo app on my
phone… the call to prayer, the Scripture being read, the music, the questions
and the reflection are all a great way to open my heart and waken my mind to
His Presence. Lord, I’m tired. Help me to hear
what You are saying. Open my eyes and
make me awake to Your Presence today, I wrote in my journal.
After the app finished, I picked up my Bible. I found the red tassel showing where I left
off yesterday and continued reading in Luke 6.
Jesus tells His disciples to give and to forgive… reminding them that
His Father is a merciful Father. We are
told to be like Him …merciful. With the
reading of the Word, I am struck with such thanksgiving---energizing and
heart-lifting worship--- Lord, thank you
for loving us! Thank you for Your mercy
and the gift of Jesus! I wrote in
my journal, Lord, only in you will I live
this giving, forgiving, merciful life.
Please fill me with the power of Your Spirit to be like You, my good and
merciful Father! As I continue to
read, there was conviction in my heart. I read Christ’s words to ‘not condemn and
not judge’. Readily my sin of
judgment---of myself and of others---came to mind. Lord,
forgive me. Make me more like You.
Make me merciful.
After my quiet moments with God, I got up to put my shoes
on… heading out to the garage-gym to use an exercise video. Okay,
Lord, here we go! Layered up against
the cold, I could feel and see the steam of my breath, I turned on the video
and started to ‘walk’ following along with the lady on the TV. She was speaking of Jesus as we walked and
she encourages us to pray… and I do.
I feel a bit heart-heavy with the many needs of those I love. As I walk, I pray. As the Lord brings a face, or a problem to
mind, I pray and ask God to fix, help, and be near. Father,
please help. As I stretch after the
work-out, one particular person weighs heavy this morning. My heart is pained for them. They don’t know Jesus and they are running
hard into destructive life choices that will bring much pain and sorrow. Oh Lord
have mercy. Spirit of the Living God
reveal Jesus to them! Lord, please open
their eyes and rescue them from darkness.
May they be released from these prisons of sin that keep them from full
life. Oh Lord, please help, please fix
this, please be near.
As I finished up my exercise, I can feel energy and
sustenance in my body, and I am grateful!
Thank you, Lord. I can feel the hunger rise up. As I go inside to prepare my breakfast, I
pray for my kids. Lord,
please give them a hunger and a thirst for righteousness and Your truth. Help them the choose You today.
This day began with the night of tossing and turning… and in
this, He led me and strengthened me to pray and remain aware of His Presence. Thus far, we have had so much conversation….and,
it’s only 9 am!
This day is Yours,
Lord! Have Your way in and through
me. Teach me to pray. What might the day bring? Okay, Lord! Here we go!