THY WILL...or my will?

“Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10)

Lord, I have a lot of trouble with that concept.

Mine runs ahead of Thine.

Give me this or give me that, I pray.

Bless this plan for me, I pray.

It’s the George-centered life, not the God-centered life that I pursue.

It’s not only selfish. It’s incredibly presumptuous that I ask you to follow my lead.

So, I pray again, straining to follow Christ’s example:

Not my will, but thy will. “Thine…not mine.”

Place me on your path, in pursuit of your priorities, through the example of Jesus and the inspiration of your Spirit. Amen.

T-shirt photo: www.mycoolgear.com

Illumination

The words of Jesus from Luke 8:16

(The Message translation)

No one lights a lamp and then covers it with a washtub or shoves it under the bed. No, you set it up on a lamp stand so those who enter the room can see their way.

Lord,

It may be that I’m too energy conscious with my lamp.

I’ve been known to use a forty-watt bulb when you specified a hundred.

I substituted a fluorescent bulb and turned everything blue.

I’ve turned off my lamp to save energy - to save my energy, that is.

…but I know better. When it comes to my lamp the only “sustainability” program is sustaining the Kingdom of God.

To use that church phrase, we are “in mission” - every day. Throughout the day the lamp is lit. How will my conduct attract others to the Faith?

Father, I aspire to be a bright lamp - high on a stand - so that others see your light. Amen.

Photo: Sunset at Kaanapali, Maui

Revelation

The Last Judgment, Michelangelo

Lord Christ,

I have been studying Revelation.
Earthquakes. Plagues. Dragons. Beasts.
Very difficult stuff.

But I’m reminded of your words in the first chapter:
Do not be afraid.

And John’s very last line of the book:
The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people.

God's grace. No fear.
And where Revelation eludes me,
I will focus on praise.

Chapter seven describes a great multitude that no one could count...from every nation, tribe, people and language...in white robes...angels, too. And they fell down on their faces before your throne in worship:

Praise and glory
and wisdom and thanks and honor
and power and strength
be to our God for ever and ever.

Father, you reign in nature,
you reign across history.
Reign in our hearts, our minds, our souls.

Let that be our revelation! Amen.

God's Attention to Detail

Dear God,

Thank you for this day.
May we find reason for celebration
And thanksgiving as it unfolds.

Praise from the 139th Psalm:
I am fearfully and wonderfully made; 
your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

Father, I read that…
We inhale 150 million air molecules in every breath,
We make 2 million red blood cells every second,
We have 10 trillion cells in our body,
That every cell contains a trillion atoms.

And we have your perspective, Lord Christ, from Luke 12:
Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

That speaks to your attention to detail,
To the detail of our lives.

May we trust in your sovereignty,
Your power, your care. Amen.

photo: Currituck Sound, NC, late afternoon