I have two objectives with this post:
- Talking about the word "ready"
- Talking about praying
As a Christian, it's easy to get caught up.
I spoke before about blaming God for things because He isn't working on our time.
It's a really horrid attitude to have.
We can't "be ready" for God to work for us; we have to be ready to work for Him.
The message I was saved to was about readiness.
And it's really coming full cycle because it's something I struggle with.
What does ready mean to God?
Well, what does it mean for humans?
Have you ever looked up the definition for ready?
No?
Check it out.
Prepared for immediate use.
If God called you right now to do something, would you?
Would you drop everything - all work, all objects, all people - immediately?
Probably not.
We're busy humans.
We lead busy lives.
So if we're not willing to be ready for God, we really have no place to be complaining when He isn't
working on our time.
I want to live my life in such a way that when God calls me, I jump.
I want to learn how to be ready.
We all should.
Now. Lately, I've been giving things up to God.
I'm a control freak... and a psych major.
I think I can fix all of my relationships.
Not so much.
I truly gave my relationships up to God this past week.
I truly gave Him the praise He deserves.
I truly gave up my selfishness, listened to His word, and started praying the right way.
"What do you mean, the right way?"
Well, this goes along with readiness.
More so, the lack of understanding on our part when we feel God isn't working for us.
When we fail to see His glory surrounding us.
When we think our prayers are unanswered.
No prayers are unanswered.
But there are ways to go about doing it.
God provides.
That's been huge on my heart and again, I've written about it.
But in order for us to see His provisions, we can't pray the wrong way.
Psalm 95:2 Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!
1 Corinthians 14:15 What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also.
James 1:6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.
If you're praying to God, and already doubting in your head that He will provide, well.
Isn't that a smack in the face?
What if a friend said to you, "Hey, I doubt you'll actually pull through, but can you pick me up tomorrow?"
You'd be pretty offended, right?
So why have that attitude towards God?
We always need to be thankful for what He has done for us, does for us, and will do for us.
We serve a loving God.
And we need to ask for things in the right way.
Personal example:
When I kept trying to run my relationships, I kept saying "God, please help her see how badly
she's treating me. I don't deserve it and I'm ready to give up the friendship,
I just pray that you take over."
she's treating me. I don't deserve it and I'm ready to give up the friendship,
I just pray that you take over."
I didn't see results.
As soon as I changed my tune, the melody was so sweet.
I started praying, "God, please be with her and guide her heart.
Right now she may not know how to be a friend to me, but Lord I pray that
you teach her to learn how to be a friend to me, and that if our friendship has run its course,
you teach her to learn how to be a friend to me, and that if our friendship has run its course,
I pray that she is able to learn the love languages of her other relationships and strengthen them,
and I just pray that you remain strong with us and with her, and allow her to use Your word
as her basis for all of her actions. And please continue to bless her life."
and BOOM.
A friendship that was hurting began to heal.
And I was shown videos on messages that totally revolutionized my attitude.
And in a week's time, literally a week,
a friendship that was hurt for a year and a half is healed.
I think about the things that hurt me from her, and I just smile.
No anger, no hurt, no unforgiveness.
Once I started praying differently, my attitude was different.
I was ready to receive God's blessings.
Evaluate your life, ladies and gents.
If you ever want to talk, just message me.
That little contact tab works wonders.
I'd love to share more of my experiences with you,
hear your thoughts,
and help you grow in Christ.
And even if you're not a Christian,
I'd still love to talk to you.
If you're looking for God,
I'm here for you.
I love that 1 Corinth. verse!!!!
ReplyDeleteThis post hits home for me; I think sometimes we forget that we can pray about specifics. Remind me to tell you the story about how I got into Houston. There was prayer, and amazing faith growth involved :)
You are learning good things.
ReplyDeleteYou are learning good things.
ReplyDeleteLove, love, love this post. I so needed that right this second! You're awesome!
ReplyDeleteThis is really great! This is very applicable for me right now. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHI! so I saw your link on Laura's blog and came to see how it looked.
ReplyDeleteThe I saw you were a Christian and so I basically stalked your blog.
I really like this post. The part about readiness was super awesome, for me especially since I've recently surrendered to a call to missions. Picking up everything and doing what God calls you to when he calls you to it is really hard. And scary. I think that's why for so many years I said no. Or made excuses about not being "ready."
When you try and do things on your own, you whittle yourself down to nothing. Which is actually pretty cool because then there's not much to pick up when you decide you better go ahead and start following where God leads.
anywho. I'll stop ranting about life on a stranger's blog now. :)
Oh! And definitely will be following now.
Elise, I love you. This is so true and I've been NEEDING someone to say this. Both parts: readiness and praying. I pray, but I don't feel like I'm very good at it. I never know what to say exactly, so then i just stop. I want to learn how to know what to say, but it's so hard.
ReplyDeleteHuh. Maybe I should ask him to help me find my words...
Lovely message and can I say so smart and mature for a woman your age :) I've been trying to follow this changed way of praying for awhile now. I was doing the same as you when it came to a hurting relationship...praying that God will help her to see how she was wrong. And then I realized that she was hurting even more than I was. And since then I've been praying for her heart to be healed. For her to see things clearly, and to see the love that she has waiting for her. I really feel like it is working, even if I haven't physically seen the results yet. So glad I just found your blog through Instagram. :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous post, Elise. So much wisdom that anyone can take to heart.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing. xoxo