Never Say Amen
by Jon Walker
Read this devotional as a prayer:
Help me, Lord, to develop a strong prayer life. I know you desire intimacy with me, and you want me to watch with you and pray (Matthew 26:40).
Yet, I never seem to find the time to pray in a deep, fervent, consistent, persistent way. What draws me to my knees the most is when I have a problem, when I want something from you, when I need your help.
I’m flipping through my calendar, stressing with commitments, and you just want to hang out – with me. Help me turn my prayers into conversations with you that keep flowing throughout the day, an on-going communication where I never say “Amen.”
Keep me close to you, no matter what it takes. I’m not sure I really want to pray that; I have bruises and scars from “whatever it takes” discipleship, but, then again, I confess the crush of these moments have taught me to throw myself on the stone before the stone falls on me.
And that has moved me closer to the love that compels my obedience, closer to becoming one with your heart. So, I’m asking that you change me until my deepest want is to be with you.
With this I pray that you will create me worthy of my calling and that your power will fulfill every good purpose you plan for me and energize everything I do in faith.
My prayer is that your life will emerge in my face and in my hands, in my thoughts and in my words. I know your grace will make it so (paraphrase of 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12, NIV).
This is a prayer that sounds exactly like what my own heart would say. Why is it that I must experience crisis before I cry out to the Lord and seek Him with “all my heart?”
We always seek the attention and conversation of others, and God always waits for our attention. God has made beautifull plants, flowers, skies, stars, creatures, and many other things- all for the attention of his human creation. God has tried everything to get our attention. When are we going to give Him our attention?
It’s so true that we seem to be closest to God when we need His help. I love the idea of just hanging out with Him, going along through my days, thinking, talking with Him as my best friend. I don’t take enough time to listen to Him, either. No one has ever loved or blessed me the way God has!
Reading this made me think of something that happened to me not long ago. I was on my way home from work, and noticed a beautiful cloud, with the sun rays streaming through. I have always loved those sights. I began to thank God for allowing me to see another wonderful cloud with sun beams and I told Him how I longed for the day when I could be with him, walk with Him, talk with Him face to face, touch Him, worship at His feet and feel His embrace, and just be with Him…….the tears were flowing down my face as I pulled into my driveway at home, and I heard that quiet still voice from deep within my heart whisper,
“Me too”.
So many problems in the world and also many great things as well. Thanks for the reminder to seek Him on a daily…every day, every minute basis. Yes, He is our source and He is our life. Without Him we will fail and fall short. And He is so gracious to forgive us of our sins and He will continue to woo us to Himself. What a wonderful God we serve. Greater is He within us than he that is in the world. May you all be blessed today. Barb
In the past month I’ve found myself drawing nearer to God for comfort during my time of need. But I find during these times that I do commune with him as my friend who sticks closest than a brother.
It excites me and inspires me that we all resonate to this prayer. The work of the Holy Spirit, no doubt. It reminds me of Helen Keller’s response when first ‘hearing’ the Gospel….’I know Him! I know this Jesus!” How wonderfully intimate our Lord and God is in His love for us. Take me Lord, I’m yours!
Lord I couldn’t have written a BETTER prayer for myself. I vow to KEEP this prayer in my heart and mind every minute of every day!!