John Piper nailed me today. He pointed out that I fail to think of life as war and instead move happily through my day in pursuit of peace, harmony, beauty, and a catchy little song. I'm a born optimist, it's true, but optimism makes my prayer life weak. This quote from the book, Let the Nations be Glad, woke me up this morning.
Life is war. That's not all it is. But it is always that. Our weakness in prayer is owing largely to our neglect of this truth. Prayer is primarily a wartime walkie-talkie for the mission of the church as it advances against the powers of darkness and unbelief. It is not surprising that prayer malfunctions when we try to make it a domestic intercom to call upstairs for more comforts in the den. -John Piper
Oh my. Forgive me for my lack of insight. Even as I see death and destruction around me, I still recline in my comfortable, insulated life and forget that a spiritual battle rages. Darkness wants my children. It wants all our children. It woos them with promises of comfort, acceptance, excitement. Now right there is a war worth praying over.
My mind keeps wandering to a hospital room. To a family gathered around their son. To the aching decision to pull the plug. I can barely put myself there in my mind, and yet my friend has lived it the last week, watching her 29-year-old son, who was hit by a drunk driver, struggle for life and lose the battle.
Just weeks ago, I sat next to her planning a children's musical. Now her life is forever marked by tragedy. I am stunned by the speed in which a person's story can change.
When I read A.W. Tozer's devotional today, about how God pried Abraham's fingers from his son, Isaac, in the second most painful act of sacrifice in the Bible, I thought of all the things I clutch to my chest. My husband and children, my home, my stuff, my time, my will. They are beautiful gifts from God, but they can be His rivals in my heart.
I can't call this story of Abraham allegory or history. I can't say, "I'm glad I'm not in Abraham's shoes," because God says, "You are Abraham. You have the same two alternatives. Possess the world and everything in it, or possess nothing." Tozer calls it the blessedness of possessing nothing.
I pray for Becky and her family, that they run to a deep and bottomless well of grace.
And I pray that I continually learn the lesson of possessing nothing to gain everything.
Recommended reading, The Pursuit of God
by A.W. Tozer
Each year about this time, I do some business with God, listening to His insistent voice urging me to steady the wheel. It's not a matter of fishtails or u-turns, but more a matter of distracted driving, the kind where you hear the rumble strips, correct your course, and become momentarily more alert, only to meander a few miles down the road. Choosing three guiding words for the years helps set the course and align the wheels with God's will.
Last year's words were thrift, nurture, and decrease. One of my goals was to shop almost exclusively at thrift and consignment stores for clothes. Achieved! With the exception of a couple of outfits and souvenir T-shirts, I happily managed this goal. All three kids now love Savers and Goodwill, and Megan's newly-decorated room was almost completely thrifted. Canopy bed from Craigslist, antique vanity from the clearance room at Kismet Consignment, $5 vintage rocker from Savers, side tables from other rooms in our home. Fun!
I wanted to nurture more relationships in my life outside of my dear family. Near-weekly breakfasts with girlfriends, dinners with my mom, and starting a church community group in our home were God's provision for this desire of my heart. I have a quote over my mudroom door that says, "God provides, but He doesn't throw the worm in the nest." I had to be intentional about this, setting up dates, seizing opportunities, and making connections, but the fruit is delicious and I will continue this good habit.
How did I decrease? Well, I put on several pounds, so I didn't decrease the food consumption! I went way overboard on school curriculum. Fail. My closets and cupboards are bulging at the seams, so I didn't do an epic job of decluttering. I guess I will revisit this for 2013.
Here are my three words for the new year:
Reduce...synonym for "decrease." Let's try this again!
Order...I am most productive when I have systems of order in place. But I'm always changing up my systems, looking for improvements, and then abandoning them altogether. For 2013, I'm going to decide on one plan for my quiet time, one plan for home/meal organization, one plan for school organization, and one plan for my exercise. I'm going to see what it feels like to stick with ONE THING. This will be HARD for me!
Spacious...Psalm 18:19 He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me. I love this verse. It reminds me that God rescued me out of my self-centered little world so that I could serve Him in a spacious place, in this wide world. Homeschooling in Rochester, Minnesota, is like living in a safe little bubble. But I am called to the ends of the earth for Christ. I want my worldview to be broad and spacious. I want to serve in concentric circles: God, family, friends, neighbors, community, country, world, whether it is with my hands or my money or my music. The needs are deep and expansive, but if I am deliberate, I can meet them one at a time.
Anyone interested in choosing your own three words?
