Prayer

I love prayer because it is a conduit through which I get to dialogue with the Lord. Prayer creates a space where I can come before him as his daughter with both general and specific requests. Prayer reminds me that the sovereign and omniscient God cares deeply about his children and loves to interact with them intimately. Prayer is powerful because when I pray for the Kingdom of God, I can be confident that not a single prayer is forgotten or brushed aside to collect dust; indeed, I am living in a moment where I am able to see God answer specific prayers that I have uttered for most of my life. I am living in a moment where I am able to see him answer my prayers regarding my sister and see him move in my sister in striking ways.

God, you are so good. Your plan will not be altered - your will will indeed be done. On earth as it is in heaven. 

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Lord, help me to give you all of myself so that I can experience all of you. Humble me and increase my dependency on you this season, even as my life is starting to look very different from even a month ago. Help me to trust you in the transitions and may I once again lay everything down at the foot of the cross. May I be rooted in your unshakeable love for me; I pray all these things over myself and it's in Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Scripture Spelunking

My friend Nastassja came over a few weeks ago and said she had a gift for me. She got me a bible, with fancy pens and highlighters to boot. She told me that the she felt prompted by the Lord to get me a bible - I sat there in amazement, not sure of what to say. This past year, I've spent more time in the word and in that moment when Nastassja handed me the gift-wrapped package, I felt this clear affirmation from the Lord that he was going to continue to grow me deeper in the word. Let me rewind: I didn't know Nastassja earlier this year, she came into my life because she encountered the Lord and her life was flipped upside down. She became a believer, and our lives intersected in the most crazy way. I've been hanging out with her this summer and for the first time, we got together last night to read the Bible together. Honestly, reading scripture has never really been a strong passion of mine. As I grow in my walk with the Lord, however, I am more and more convicted of my need for it in my life. Like daily. I am convicted that walking with the Lord is not just simply based on relative experiences and emotions (as beautiful and powerful as those are); no, my walk with him ultimately needs to be grounded on scripture. 

We spent two hours in Habbakuk and at one point, I looked up at her and exclaimed, "This is so weird, but I'm experiencing heart palpitations." I mean, it didn't hurt or anything. It just felt like my heart was jumping inside of my chest. Like in a really joyful way. And as Nastassja and I hung out and read Habbakuk together, I felt the joy of the Lord and my heart kept doing these little flips.

God's promises are fulfilled in and through Christ and are outlined in scripture. I desire for a deep deep hunger to know God - I want monotonous readings of scripture to be replaced by an unquenchable passion for his word. I want to know more of his love; I want to know more of his heart. Because to know God is to be changed by his love. There is no shame; there is no condemnation. It is God's love, not shame, that ushers you into his kingdom. 

A Prayer

 Lord, it feels good to sit before you and just be. Thank you for today. Thank you that my sister started her grad program this month and that both our journeys this past year have looked similar. Thank you that you've brought my family to where we are today. Lord, you are faithful and I want to remember these things and worship you. I'm speechless when I get texts from my sister that say she's been praying for me. My heart is amazed when she asks me to send more daily devotionals. She is not the same person; indeed, nor am I. So... When I grumble and cry out to you and ask you where you are or what you're doing, help me to remember. Help me to be confident in your timing and in your goodness. Who knows what other things you have planned for my family? I will continue to anchor my hopes in your faithfulness.