Skip to main content

“Lead us in the way everlasting.”

A thought by Craig Groeschel, from his book, Dangerous Prayers Because Following Jesus Was Never Meant to Be Safe, Zondervan. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book)


That is what we want, isn’t it?

Craig says, “Are you ready to pray this dangerous prayer? Are you prepared to hear what God might show you as you do? Do you have the faith to ask and the courage to obey? Search my heart, God. Reveal my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me. And lead me in the way everlasting.”

He goes on, “Every phrase in this faith-filled cry to God is important. But it’s incomplete without the final passionate prayer—lead me in the way everlasting.

“We don’t want God to just show us the impurity of our hearts. We want more than to simply know our fearful and anxious thoughts. We desire more than just knowing how we are offensive. We want God to lead us, to direct us, to guide us to become who he wants us to be.”

He continues, “When you pause to pray this prayer and listen, God will speak to you. But don’t take this prayer lightly. Don’t pray it half-heartedly. This isn’t a game or a sterile little spiritual exercise to help you have a better day. This is a soul-cleansing, heart-mending, eternity-altering prayer. ‘Lead me.’”

He then says, “As I reflect on my spiritual journey through this prayer, let me recap what God has been showing me.

1.    “Search my heart, God. God showed me my hypocrisy. I often show people the me I want them to see. My words honor God, but my heart can be far from him. 
2.    Know my anxious thoughts. I’m scared to death of not measuring up. I’m haunted by my insecurities. I’m paralyzed with fear that I don’t have what it takes to please people. 
3.    See if there is any offensive way in me. Time and again, I’ve put the approval of people ahead of the approval of God. I’ve battled with wanting to be liked by people more than wanting to express my love for God. 
4.    Lead me. And this is where the rubber meets the road. This is where things get real. This is where genuine, Spirit-filled, life-altering change becomes possible.”

He later says, “Are you tired of boring, safe, sterile prayers? Are you stuck in a spiritual rut? Is your faith fat? Your passion low? Are you hungry for more? And ready to obey?

“Then venture out into the deep waters of communication with God. Open your heart to healing from a divine God. Step into the beauty of God’s forgiveness and grace. Seek his unfailing, unconditional, and unquenchable love. And have the courage to pray this dangerous prayer. But don’t just pray it. Respond to what he shows you. Step through your greatest fear and into faith. Embrace your deepest need and let it drive you to depend on Christ.”

That’s what He wants, and that’s what we want, isn’t it?  

 Yes, yes!
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

“There’s a big difference between building a castle and building a kingdom.”

A thought by Bob Goff from his book, Everybody, Always: Becoming Love in a World Full of Setbacks and Difficult People ( p. 41). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)   Have you ever built a sand castle or maybe a Lego castle?   Have you? Bob says, “We actually build castles all the time, out of our jobs and our families and the things we’ve purchased. Sometimes we even make them out of each other. Some of these castles are impressive too. Lots of people come to admire what we’ve built over the course of our lives and tell us what great castles we have. But Jesus told His friends we weren’t supposed to spend our lives building castles. He said He wanted us to build a kingdom, and there’s a big difference between building a castle and building a kingdom.” Bob goes on, “You see, castles have moats to keep creepy people out, but kingdoms have bridges to let everyone in. Castles have dungeons for people who ha...
Post a Comment
Read more

“When you understand that life is a test, you realize that nothing is insignificant in your life.”

A thought by Rick Warren, (2012-10-23) from his book, The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? (Purpose Driven Life, The) (p. 57). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. To realize that from God’s perspective life is a test goes a long way in determining how you handle your life.   It is important to see that in testing your character is both developed and revealed.   Rick goes on to say that “even the smallest incident has significance for your character development. Every day is an important day, and every second is a growth opportunity to deepen your character, to demonstrate love, or to depend on God.” So there is a God purpose behind each situation in your life.   Even the bad ones are there to strengthen you and develop you.   You see those bad situations are really good ones because they are there for your good. I start each day with a reminder that God is good.   Not every situation that is going to come in my day is good but because G...
Post a Comment
Read more

“What areas of my personality, background, and physical appearance am I struggling to accept?”

A thought by Rick Warren, (2012-10-23) from his book, The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? (Purpose Driven Life, The) (p. 35). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. Rick posed this question at the end of his chapter, You Are Not an Accident.   In this chapter he deals with the fact that God created you the way you are with a purpose.   In other words you are not an accident.   I am also reading the Apostle John’s view of Jesus and what He said and did while He was here on earth.   In the beginning of Chapter 9 there is a story about a blind man.   And the disciples who were with Him asked Him a good question, “Who sinned, this man or his parents that he was born blind? ”   Have you ever asked the same thing about something in you that you don’t like?   Like that characteristic is a curse or something.   Society has set a standard that is not a standard of God.   Remember, He created you and you are not an accident. Je...
Post a Comment
Read more