WHEN POVERTY OF SPIRIT IS A GOOD THING FOR PRAYER…

For those of you who regularly read my blog…the 10’s of you, I must apologize for the sporadic nature of my postings the past few months. I should have planned better and posted old posts on a regular schedule so you wouldn’t have known better. I’m in flux.

I have joined Hope*Writers, a writing group that is all encompassing. I’m trying to improve my writing, blogging, etc. and still keep up with my regular blogging and my life! It was an unrealistic goal. I also was out of town much of the month of May.

I’ve tried, unsuccessfully, to figure out who my readers are. So I’m taking another route and writing to who I think they are…or who I think will be interested in what I have to say. I’m having to dig deep to think about all of this. Any feedback I can get will be helpful. But I think many of you prefer to remain anonymous.

I will start sharing some older, rewritten posts from the past. That way, you will have more regular posts to read yet they will seem like new ones. My goals for the blog are changing just slightly but the them of GOD’s gritty grace toward us and our needs to love others with a gritty grace continues. It is a theme through many of life’s circumstances and applications.

I hope this helps you understand what is going on here. I guess you could say there is a bit of construction going on. It is happening in me and on my blog. Please hang in with me during the process. Tell me what is working for you and what isn’t. What helps and what doesn’t.

In the end, I think we’ll have a place that will help all of us.

Now for my new post today!

I wanted to share here something that happened to me this weekend that was rather momentous. For some you, it won’t sound like much. For others, it will sound huge! Bear with me.

I was asked to pray in our worship service on Sunday morning. For me, that is a big deal. Women don’t pray in our worship services often, but our church has been more intentional about that in the past couple of years. Frankly, I had no desire to be one of those people. I don’t pray well in public. I do a lot of other things publicly, but praying aloud tends to make my mind go blank and gibberish comes out! I hate that.

When our pastor called me a couple of days to ask if I would pray out loud, I demurred. He encouraged me by saying, “You will have a microphone at your pew. You will be able to write out what you want to say.” I realized I had no real excuse.

As I thought about the context of my prayer, I realized the areas GOD has been working on me in the past couple of years have been in being poor and needy...and how much I hate being that way. Share on X

As I thought about the context of my prayer, I realized the areas GOD has been working on me in the past couple of years have been in being poor and needy…and how much I hate being that way. I looked over Scripture and saw how much He loves those who realize they are poor and needy. How He promises to be our Helper and Deliverer and to carry our burdens, even when they seem small to others.

Ron’s illness has shown me how poor and needy I truly am. I thought I was strong. But when it comes to long term, chronic illness, I’m weak. I don’t have the stamina to stand up against many of the demands that I am called on to fulfill.

Hard times that come to us and show us our poverty and neediness are things to be thankful for if they push us to depend on our Heavenly Father and away from our own natural independence of GOD.

And for the many times I need to pray...for my needs, for the needs of others, and the world around me that I neglected? I needed to repent! I too often put my agenda first instead of the needs of others. Share on X

And for the many times I need to pray…for my needs, for the needs of others, and the world around me that I neglected? I needed to repent! I too often put my agenda first instead of the needs of others.

So in thinking about that prayer, I had much food for thought. I wrote down the words of the prayer and mostly read it aloud as I prayer it in my seat over the microphone.

It was an act of worship that lasted about 3 days as I thought about the words I would say. I need to do it more often…write out my prayers that is. It is so helpful to see the words and add in what I truly want to say. When I see them written out, I can see what is missing for sure!

I hope your Monday is going well. And if not, and poor and needy describes your Monday, may GOD, your Helper and Deliverer do just that.

But may all who seek you
  rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who love your salvation
  say continually, “Great is the Lord!”
As for me, I am poor and needy,
  but the Lord takes thought for me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
  do not delay, O my God!

Psalm 40:16-17

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden,
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me,
for I am gentle and lowly in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy,
and my burden is light.”

Matthew 11:28-30