Breakthrough, breakthrough, breakthrough! – As my roomate Jacqueline loves to sing
On Thursday’s we have Sabbath. Sabbath is a day to find rest in the Lord and allow your cup to be refilled so you aren’t running on an empty tank all the time. Praise God for Sabbath! My team and I have had a crazy schedule since being here and on sabbath days we are able to regroup and spend some time alone. Living with people in community 24/7 can be beautiful but also draining, especially for an introvert like myself. So I really enjoy some time alone every once in a while!
Today I finished a book called Dangerous Prayers and I have some words I really want to share about grace!! Maybe it’s because I drank my first cup of coffee ever today, not realizing how much of an energy boost 2 shots of espresso can really gives someone.. But between coffee and the holy spirit in my veins, The Lord was shifting my heart! And He revealed a new level of understanding about the concept of grace to me today and it would be an injustice if I didn’t write it down!
The whole book was about praying this prayer:
“God, send me. Use me. I’m not asking for details. I don’t need to know the benefits. Or if it will be easy. Or if I will enjoy it. Because of who you are—my God, my King, my Savior—I trust you. Because you are sovereign over the universe, I surrender my will to you, every part of me. Take my mind, my eyes, my mouth, my ears, my heart, my hands, and my feet and guide me toward your will. I trust you. God, my answer is yes. Now what’s the question. Amen”
This prayer is much different then normal, often boring, prayers asking for health, wealth, and love. This prayer invites God in and asks Him for His will to be done over ours. When you get to know God, His character, His nature, His holiness, you become more willing to offer more dangerous prayers. In fact, when you experience God for who he REALLY is, you will actually enjoy praying with such vulnerability!
Also, how beautiful is it that when we cry out to God for forgiveness, He no longer remembers our sins. They are gone. Forgiven. Washed away. Forgotten! Held over your head no longer!? Grace. Changes. Everything. We don’t bring anything. Jesus brings everything! When we sense his presence, we become aware of our sinfulness. Then we become eternally indebted to him for his extravagant, undeserved, and matchless GRACE!
When you become aware of his presence, you will not be the same.
This may sound like a whole lot of random things, but to me they mean so much. When we bring the dark parts of our life to the light he changes us from the inside out! By knowing God’s characteristics we get to know Him! And I think that is so beautiful.
Happy Thursday, friends! Jesus loves you!
