Notice the Stream

... of countless ways in which
Our Creator constantly romances us.

My Desire: To Be Trained + Ordained, Anointed + Appointed

Abba,

You are eternal, perfect, holy, and whole. You are completely integrated and always in integrity with yourself. You aren’t lacking anything. You are fullness of love, definiteness of purpose, confidence, grace. You’re here with me, embracing me, filling me with Your power, Your love, Your wisdom.

I confess that I’m too full of my little self to have any room for You to pour Yourself into me, and I don’t know how to change that on my own. I want to pour all of me—all my desires, earthly hopes and dreams, worries, wishes, concerns, projects, all of it—out, leaving an empty vessel to offer You to use for Your purposes.

Thank You that Your Holy Spirit can teach me how to do that, to offer myself at Your feet. Thank You that I’m aching for You right now, and that my highest desire is to be with You, to be Your trained & ordained, anointed & appointed Minister of Reconciliation. Thank You that You wouldn’t give me this desire to be Your Ambassador unless You intend to make good on it and redeem my life.

Today I pray that You would open doors in that direction, that I could become trained & ordained, anointed & appointed. Please give me wisdom and certainty about what that means and how to serve You completely in my life right now, while working towards becoming trained & ordained so that I have the confidence and inspiration to be all about You all the time. Please send me cohorts and mentors that can help me guard myself from distractions, because I know I’m too weak and worldly on my own. Teach me to feed my spirit and starve my flesh! Make me Your Ambassador. I beg You!!

In Jesus’ merciful name I pray, amen.

Disciplines vs. Distraction——-Which One Will I Feed More Today?

Abba, You are the Wise One. You are Wisdom. You have the complete perspective on everything. You know and understand how everything fits together and why. You know where this is all headed, and You know our secret motives, the things we don’t admit even to ourselves. You’re also the Sovereign One. Nothing escapes Your notice or Your grasp. You are ultimately in control of everything. Your impeccable wisdom combined with Your all-encompassing sovereignty leave us in a place where no worry is necessary. You know exactly what needs to happen when, and You are able to make it happen. Nothing can stop Your plans, not even our own human weaknesses or disobedience.

I confess that my human weaknesses are many. I fear that Distraction is among the worst of them, while Undisciplined-ness vies closely for that top spot. My heart is ever willing, but my flesh is so ridiculously weak. And while my heart craves the spiritual disciplines that will inevitably bring the flesh into line, my flesh is still the strong one. I’m still losing that battle every day. And I’m still not taking the battle seriously. I confess that I dawdle about Kingdom priorities but slavishly serve the busy-ness and bustle of the world’s priorities. I get sucked right into that vortex of meaninglessness and let the Enemy win time and again.

THANK YOU for this early morning time when You bring this to my awareness. Thank You for Your patience. Thank You for the spiritual disciplines, like special tools the mentor gives the hero in an adventure. Thank You that You are sending into my life even now a spiritual director or mentor who can help keep me accountable, who can keep steering me back toward the light when I drift. Thank You for the Holy Spirit, already in my life doing just that (if only I were aware of it & tuned to hear His voice!!). Thank You that You understand our human weaknesses. Thank You for reminding me of Your infinite wisdom last night at Bible study. Thank You for the creative ideas You’ve given me, and thank You that You will help me bring them to fruition. Thank You for my amazing family and this day to celebrate together–our last day before Ben’s school starts. Thank You for his new school and all the good that it brings with it. Thank You for our new schedule and structure!

Please bless this day with Your favor. May we have deep Real Moments as a family and slow down to really enjoy each other’s presence. Please help me manage my emotions so I can be even and strong tomorrow as I meet Ben’s teacher and drop him off for his first day at school tomorrow. Help me to shift back to excitement every time the tears start to come tomorrow (but give me time in private to cry my eyes out, because I know that’s good for me too!). Please help me sort out financial income avenues so that I can attend not only Art of Money but also B-school, and create something like Stratejoy’s Elevate Mastermind group. I would love to lead a group of ladies through a fun year like that! Also give me wisdom as to my screenplays and career strategies. Thank You!

In Jesus’ mighty name, amen!