That’s what we do. Hence the popularity of fast food. We love the convenience of staying in our cars while we do whatever we want – work, phone call, text, chat, lyme and more.
But to eat and run consistently may not be good for us in the long term.
Likewise, consider when we do our devotions. Is it done like eating and running? Do we go so fast as if to check off a list? But what are we losing?
Read And Run Spiritually
Spending the time to Read, reflect, and apply what we have read to our lives is important. It is the only way to grow spiritually.
Let’s spend the time to pray, read the word, listen to the lord and glean his leading.
My Flight to Rome took me through Philadelphia. I arrived next day. Tired, I slept the rest of the afternoon through the evening into the night. Refreshed I awoke next day six hours ahead of the United States.
My first order of interest was to visit the Vatican. To give thanks and commit the rest of my stay to the Lord most high. Afterall I still didn’t know the intent of my trip.
My mind wondered to my visit to Paris with my daughter. Where was the Eiffel Tower? How could we get there? It was almost nightfall, and we were not sure where we were heading. Ask. We did, but most didn’t speak English or were reluctant. Off the train, around the bend and there it stood majestic!
I reflect on that day in Paris as I headed out to find the Vatican in Rome. As the saying goes When in Rome do as the Romans do. They trek. So I trekked. The Problem was I didn’t know where I was trekking to. The hotel’s front desk said it was 15 minutes away from their location. Of course I could handle that trek. But after walking, walking, walking I still couldn’t find it. Thirty minutes later still walking steadily taking pictures of Rome’s dynamic architecture and views of the historic city, I became curious wondering if I was walking in the wrong direction.
The memories of Paris flooded back. Where is it? Don’t know. I finally asked a guy preparing to welcome lunch guests at one of the common outdoor cafes. Around the corner he replied, speaking very little English. I proceeded. No signs. Made no sense anyway because I didn’t speak the language. Pronunciations differed but I thought that at least I would see the name somewhere if it was close.
Ten minutes later I saw a young woman and a nun get out of a taxi. Hmmm good person to follow, right? Yet still I hesitated. Waited a bit then a few minutes later saw the nun down the road walking hastily amidst the crowd. I guess it was time to follow that direction as they disappeared. Slowly I walked. Down to the road’s end.
Suddenly what appeared was the sunlight that illuminated the vastness of an arena. A new world opened. Reminded me of Roman soldiers that I read about in the Bible and reminders of movies I had seen. Like many others, I sat on a curb to rest tired feet. Took pictures as keepsake to share with my girls. Drank water then headed to the long lines that winded up to the entrance of the cathedral. This was the start of Winter with limited tourists, I can’t imagine what it would be like during summer’s busy season and I am not interested to find out. So I determined to stand in line. Heck there’s nothing more planned for the day. I might as well wait in the line for an hour or 2.
Surprisingly the line moved at a good pace and I was eventually inside. Mesmerized by the beauty and unique artistry of the architecture, visitors’ eyes were drawn upward. Yet the interior was filled with the sense of being in a holy place. Traveling solo, I tried to take selfies which were mostly crooked but that didn’t stop me.
I walked to the holy sanitarium where no photos were allowed. I proceeded. In that small space it was reserved for prayer. I sat filled with innate holiness and emptied my mind of everything I had in my heart.
Prayers for the future.
Prayers for my two girls together and alone.
Prayers for family
Prayers for friends. One by one I named them.
I prayed until all I had left was peace that he had heard my cry. Thanksgiving followed with praise for my obedience to follow his lead.
In that moment as the amazing artistically carved figure of Christ on the crossed looked down at me and others in the silence of that sanctuary, I felt the journey was accomplished because I had obeyed. Hmmm what if that was the reason he drew me there?
There’s a craze going around with thoughts such as be you; be your best self; and you name it, it’s yours. These are all centered on the “me craze.” Everything is about being me, me, me. Live your best life! And yes ….I often subscribe to these.
But…
And yes there’s always a but… there’s a balance. Use caution. Be yourself but be careful of your intake. This means be careful of what you put inside your head. It goes to your heart. Undesirables create feelings of negativity, apathy and sadness when your desire to please goes astray. Desirables create feelings of positivity, purity and optimism. Make sure you follow the right crowd.
Yes, be you but remain humble. Be Christ-centered, not self-centered. Be confident in who you were made to be but make sure you walk circumspectly as being wise. It’s a thin line and you can fall off easily if you go astray.
At 6am I awoke startled wondering who had turned on the light. Sleep disturbed. Weeks later a repeat after a night of power outage. A Blackout fired the most beautifully decorated Christmas lights. But joy came in the morning as sunrise burst through.
Hmm cause to reflect….
Jesus is the light of the world. There’s no light that shines brighter than his. We too are encouraged to let our light (life) shine. Surprise someone with your light of love today. There’s no better time than during the most wonderful time of the year.
Those were the words I saw on a list of things to do written by my little one. She was in Grad school and as most of us know, moving becomes a part of college life. As she packed to move she had a list of things to do. A trait taught by her mom to ensure everything or most things are captured as part of planning life’s journey. As I went to help clear an area in the kitchen, I pounced on a post-it list of things to do for the packing. On the list I read the words “ask the Lord’s guidance“. Wow! As a mom I was happy see her giving the lord the place she needs in her life. My goal was to discreetly capture a picture of the list but my phone was some place else. Later, I left and forgot to capture the treasured list.
Commit to Memory
I think of Sergio’s family who lived in the building that came crashing down in Miami. A building labeled as a catastrophe (unknown to residents). It claimed the lives of over one hundred people while they slept. Immediately people of faith prayed and prayed, pleading with God for the safe survival of those affected. Sadly it was too much and after 14 days searchers resorted to a rescue mission instead to retrieve the remains of fatalities. This was a national crisis acknowledged by community leaders up to the President. Such catastrophes we may not easily forget as we remain on our knees.
I reflect also on Hailey’s mom who had a degenerative condition. Similarly, Ken’s brother was admitted in the hospital for prolonged treatment while Laila felt discouraged as she couldn’t find a job.
Common to these scenarios is that all asked asked friends, colleagues and the church to pray. Many joined in prayer at the outset but as time progressed forgot to pray and only remember intermittently. Life’s daily priorities often overshadow even the most devastating catastrophes as they linger.
Prayer Checklist
That’s where a prayer checklist comes in. It serves as a basis for times when there’s too much to remember. Though we mean well, our fickle minds forget to pray for the sick, those in relationship turmoil, the jobless, the discouraged, and our daily needs. Let’s not forget to mention how often we forget to give thanks for answered prayers.
A prayer list is invaluable. To satisfy your curiosity, here are five reasons:
It helps us remember what and who to pray for.
It serves as a testament for Praise and Thanksgivingwhen prayers are answered.
It provides a medium for reflection when we look back at what the Lord has done.
It serves as a means for acknowledgement of our journey with God. Sometimes he had to carry us. Sometimes he comforted. At other times we look back unable to understand how we made it through. That’s when he strengthened us in our weakness.
Most importantly, it serves as a yearend dialogue with family and friends when we reflect.
Start capturing those prayer requests today. An e-notepad (smartphone) or a simple sheet of paper will do, but a prayer journal will help to keep them more organized. You can get them at most pharmacies, grocery or convenience stores. But here’s GreenLight Journal that will definitely help.
Now it’s your turn. What are your thoughts about a Prayer checklist? Do you use them? Please share. We would love to hear.
I’ll wait for you as long as you want me to. I’ll wait until it’s your time. I’ll wait until you say yes. I’ll wait because I want nothing less than your will. I’ll wait on your direction, I’ll wait on your leading, I’ll wait on your guidance.
And when I get impatient Lord, hold my hand and make me stronger than I am.
Get up and Go. You can face any situation with him or without him. The choice is yours.
Charles Stanley
I Took some time to listen to my 𝒢𝓇𝑒𝑒𝓃𝐿𝒾𝑔𝒽𝓉 𝒜𝓊𝒹𝒾𝑜𝒷𝑜𝑜𝓀 while on a nature trek. Actually accidentally. I was listening to another audiobook about women of God, finished a few chapters and decided to move on to another book. That’s when I pounced upon my own GreenLight book and said, why not? Haven’t listened in a while.
“𝓖𝓮𝓽 𝓾𝓹 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓖𝓸” was the tugging reminder of God’s grace. Charles Stanley reminded that We can face any situation with him or without him.
It’s in track 4 …. if you already have the book. If not, snatch yours here. Paperback and Kindle are options too.
The book was Inspired by the word of God and his direction. My Safe place and the soon to be released RedLight will complete the series. Follow his lead.
This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus
Overheard discussion with a professional medical personnel. The aged couple commented that they are getting up in age to which the young professional medical practitioner responded “that’s okay, we’ll be around for awhile”.
How do you know this to be true? Life’s not promised. Let’s be careful of our assumptions. Remember the guy who decided to store up and build barns because he planned to be around for a long time? He passed away that very night.
So think before you speak. No one knows the future.
GREENLiGHT 