All About GOD - Growing Relationships with Jesus and Others

How to get from 'here' to 'there'

From here to there . . .

I’ve Got an Idea!

Listen to this podcast here: https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/30ed7e79/how-to-get-fro...

We were deep in discussion when she stopped, put both hands squarely down on the lunch table in an emphatic manner and said, “I do trust God—really I do. But I struggle with letting go of the anxiety and sometime fear. I'm wondering if you can help me??”

“Yes, I believe I can; in fact, I’ve got an idea," I replied, looking into her hazel eyes.

This comes on the heels of "What is the difference between faith and trust?"

https://conta.cc/3TlZQ4B, in case you did not read or listen to the podcast, it has application for this briefing.

Here's what I know: it is impossible to trust someone you do not know; there is no trust without relational equity. Same with God--we cannot trust the God whose name we profess if we do not know him or communicate with him.

Looking for inspiration, I pulled a number of books off my shelves, and sure enough, halfway through a book I had previously laid aside, I found a treasure.

Check out this guy's 'come to Jesus' moment:

---It became clear to me several years ago that every time I would wake up, morning after morning, my heart would automatically take me in one direction or another. My heart was like a compass needle, immediately seeking North to my true desires, worries and fears. My mind would immediately go to things that weighed on me, and these thoughts revealed something true of me. I am a worrier. Instead of getting up and putting on a robe, my heart would awake and put on worry. I often worried before I went to bed and, like a close traveling companion, worry would revisit me upon waking… Worry is when our fears move us into our autonomy and away from faith so that we believe that we cannot take our eyes off the problem for fear that no one, including God, will attend to it. The essence of worry is distrust in God, which is the intention of the heart trained in worry.1

Ah worry, there it is. . . the need for control and the accompanying illusion that we might possibly effect some change simply by thinking about it. Note: there is a key word in the last sentence: intention.

What if we, by intention, did something different upon awakening?

Several years ago, I taught through the book of Romans,2 initially a very intimidating undertaking to be sure. But our teacher, Paul, gives us such concrete understanding of living, expressing and growing our faith in Jesus Christ, that it behooves us to give the book good and careful attention. Consider Paul’s strong urging: I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.3 Truth: we can by intention attend our days differently.

Applying this to our morning wake-ups, we can do those differently. Upon awakening, we can by intention ‘present ourselves to God’ first, before anything else is set upon our hearts and minds. Here's help for my lunch friend, for you and for me - we can offer God the daily Prayer of Intention something like this:

Good morning, Lord, I am here, I present myself to you. Before I do anything else, I first want to be with you.4

Come Lord Jesus and remind me Who You Are. [be intentionally still a moment]

Then recall this promise of the Father: Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.5

In view of that, Father,

give ear to my words, consider my meditation.

Give heed to the voice of my cry, my King and my God,

For to You I will pray. My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord;

In the morning I will direct it to You, and I will look up.6

Empty me of me, dear Lord, I pray, and fill me with your spirit.

Hear my requests, Lord: ______ ______ _______ _______ _______

Thank you, God, that you know what I need before I ask, yet You bid me come, stay awhile with you, rest in you.

Thank you, Lord, that you promise rest for my heart, mind and soul when I come to you.7

I praise You, Lord, that my name is known to you—it is written on the palm of your hand.8

And now Father, I go confidently into this day, with intention, presenting myself to You. Amen.

Song: Rest in Him - so apt. Listen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qirn-uOOWwM