Our pastor (the coolest pastor ever, and I've known quite a few pretty awesome pastors) challenged the congregation to take time to consider our neediness before a sovereign, loving God, and decide on one request we would place before God for this upcoming year.
The jolting part of this exhortation is that this is weirdly similar to an idea I had around Christmas, that we -- Bryan, Elijah (maybe Asher), and I -- should write a prayer request down and pack it away with the Christmas stuff so that next year when we unpack it, we can review those requests and see how God has worked in our lives.
The boys didn't like my idea. Whatever. I'm taking our pastor up on his challenge.
Now, this isn't a list of resolutions that I'm making and then putting into prayer form; that would be my self-sufficiency masquerading as humility and submission. This also isn't a wish list (I hope) of stuff I want. Finally, this was terrifically difficult to come up with, probably more than you would imagine:
My heart's desire is for my family to center itself around the person and Godhead of Christ.
I'd like to see Bryan be baptized, a public demonstration of his faith, and I firmly believe that this one step would guide Elijah closer to baptism.
I want my own heart to thirst and seek hard after God, because in doing so I believe I could stop focusing so much on myself and how I fall short.
I have resolutions and I have goals and I have wishlists for the year and my life, but that is my prayer. That is what I lay at the foot of the throne of Grace and say, Take it. I am unable. You are able. Do as You will.
Six and a half years later
3 years ago
I need a spiritual resolution. sigh.
ReplyDeleteWow, Jess, the other day I was just thinking, "Bryan has never been baptized, I wonder what his thoughts are on that?" At church on Saturday, we were given the challenge to meet someone new and ask how you could pray for them. My request was similar to yours. "That my family have a closer relationship with the Lord, and that includes me." Can't wait to see what God will do!
ReplyDeleteWe discussed this yesterday so I have nothing new to add. I just comment because I love you.
ReplyDeleteJoann - I think you could guarantee that his thoughts on the matter are very close to this: NOT IN FRONT OF ALL THOSE PEOPLE! And then he'd become equal parts, passive, agressive & resistant, as is his way, which is why I leave this between him and the Lord. Hands VERY off.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to see what God will do either. Keep praying!