Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Prayers

Hezikiah was a king in the Old Testament. He did things that pleased the Lord. One day a prophet told him to get ready because he was going to die. Hezikiah prayed that God would spare his life; He did. Later, a King from another country came and Hezikiah showed him all of wealth, the temple, all that he had. God did not approve of Hezikiah's display and Hezikiah died a horrible death.

The point I take from this story is God loves our prayers and will answer them. But when He makes it clear that His path is the best way and we continuously pray for something else, He may let it happen.  The way we want is not the best. God's way, even though it could mean death or pain, is the best. He's trying to save us from ourselves.

Just like our own children, we know what is best for them. If they continue to ask and beg for something we will let them knowing the outcome will not be good.

I continue to pray for things I would like to have happen but I try to bookend that with whatever God's will is, will be the best for me.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Bathtub thoughts

I was in the bathtub this afternoon and was just floating and thinking. I was obviously inhaling and exhaling. As most of you know, when you inhale, the body rises; exhaling, it sinks.

It's the same with the Holy Spirit.

If we let Him in, He fills us, we rise, elevate to where He wants us.

If we push Him away, or exhale, we sink and drown.

My day is full of inhaling and exhaling, depending on what I want to do. How often do I really listen to what He wants me to do? I would love to say I inhale more than I exhale, but unfortunately, like our breathing, one accompanies the other.

The mountains and the valleys are connected. Even more confusing, when we do inhale it can be accompanied with a valley...that makes no sense to humans. We rationalize that if we do good work that equals a good outcome. Jesus is more concerned with our character than our satisfaction with ourselves.