Covenant...

My prayer:

Great small group as always God. I love the women you have brought to the group. They are each so beautiful and so earnest in their desire to get closer to you. I am truly blessed to have them in my life.

I have spent a lot of time struggling over this idol question and the committment you are asking for. I know that the main thing that is in the way right now is not something that I can move or control on my own. If I could of I would have (as Bishop use to say). But, you have said that you can help me. You have said that you can help me stay focused, not get distracted and not get stale, forgetting the miracle you are in my life.

God, when I first made the decision to accept you as my Lord and savior and live for you, I didn't know how to do that either. I didn't know how to live for you. I didn't know how or even if I wanted to live a "Christian" life. But I knew I loved you and I didn't want to live another day without you in it. So, tonight I step out with that same kind of faith, not knowing how I will do it but trusting you to help me.

God I commit tonight that I will never try to leave you, I will never turn my back on you and I will not grow stale and forget the miracle you are in my life. God help me to never try to leave you, to never turn my back on you. Help me to not grow stale or forget the miracle that you are in my life. Help me to not get distracted and stay focused on you, your people and my love for you. I make this commitment to you tonight and ask for your help in keeping it.

Thank you for your patience with me. Thank you for what this covenant will mean. Thank for this next step. I love you. Three simple words but I mean them with my whole heart.

What God said tonight:

Thank you. You will not regret this decision. You will not regret choosing me. You will not regret trusting me to help you. You will not regret this.

What comes next? A peace to know that you are right where you are meant to be. A peace to know that my will is at work in your life. A peace to know that you have made a choice that will drive the remainder of your life, your everlasting life.

This step is essential but now that it has been made, you will be amazed how easy it is to keep the commitment. Your life is blessed because of your relationship with me. Your time is multiplied because of your dependence on me. Your needs are met because I am your daddy and I won't ever let you down. You and me forever girl!

I am so excited tonight!! Not only because of the decision you made but because of what I know this will mean for your life, for the lives of the people around you for the lives of the people reading this blog and for the Kingdom of God!!! If you could only see what I see, you would be dancing, seriously dancing like we are!!!!

I love you and I covet your attention. Be blessed and rest in peace. Your future is assured.

Commitment part 2...

My Prayer:

My God, this is the best part of my day so far, spending time with you. How do I tell you what you mean to me? I don't have the words. I don't think the words exist. I am glad you know my heart because my ability to express how much you mean to me is so lacking.

Sometimes I get it messed up. I get wrapped up in my own stuff, or someone else's stuff, or someone, or something and I lose my focus. We have a question from last week's small group Bible study and Pastor Joe talked about it on Sunday. What are my idols? What are those things that get in between me and you? What are those things I think about when my mind is idle. Why do I allow any idols in my life. Why do I allow anything to get between you and me? I don't have answers, but I know I do allow it. Then I end up feeling lost, alone and I get confused.

The good news is you always bring me back. You always find a way to get my attention again. I was ready to start tonight's prayer blog with the commitment you asked for last night, but maybe, until I can truly let go of anything that gets between you and me, I am not ready? God, I do not doubt that you will be in my life forever. I don't doubt that you will never leave me. But will I never try to leave you? The part that really got me was when you talked about never forgetting the miracle you are in my life. I want that to be true but I know that I haven't been able to accomplish that so far in my life. You know I can get complacent. You know that I sometimes forget the amazing privilege of being your daughter. Eventually, something happens, or someone says something, and I realize that I have allowed myself to get distracted again. That's when I turn back and do all I know to seek you again. So, I know that I can commit to that. I can commit to always coming back. I want to commit to never turning away...but I don't know if I can. Can I commit to something I have never been able to accomplish in the past?

God I need your help.

What God said tonight:

Sweet daughter of mine. Thank you for your honesty and thank you for truly thinking about the commitment.

It is true that you have never been able to do this before. If you were able to do it before, I wouldn't need you to commit to it now. It would already be in place. When you make a commitment for the first time, it is always a new thing.

I am glad that you asked for my help. I can help you keep the commitment if you want me to. I can help you have the strength and the focus to not get distracted. I can do all of it if you want me to. I want a true covenant with you. It is a binding contract. With it there is safety, protection and privilege. To be in covenant takes commitment from both of us.

Commitment is hard for you. There have not been a lot of positive constants in your life so far. But remember my promises. Remember your commitment to your mom and others in your life now that you are healed from the past pain. You can do this. It won't be as hard as you think. Leave your doubt and insecurity behind. It does not serve you well. It is hindering your progress. Lean on my strength.

Please don't ever be alone again. Don't try to it on your own. It doesn't work.

Keep seeking for your answer. When you decide, I will be here. Your love is so beautiful and is only barely a dim reflection of my love for you.

Commitment...

My Prayer:

Father God, I am beat tonight. Almost no sleep last night, long day but I get to end it here with you so all is good. Thanks for getting me through this one.

God, I am feeling a bit overwhelmed. Who am I to expect you to talk to me every night? Who am I to think that I can translate your voice to all of the amazing people you are bringing to this blog?

I am really glad that you can use anyone. I am really thankful that it doesn't take someone who is perfect to serve you and to hear from you. I am so grateful for Jesus sacrifice that allows me to come directly to you, speak to you and hear from you. I can't imagine being born in a time where I didn't have that direct access to you but had to go through the priest. Thank you for letting me be born in a time when I get to know you personally. Not because I am anybody but because of what you did for me.

I cannot imagine life without your amazing presence. I wouldn't have a reason to get out of bed. God, continue to teach us how to seek you, find you and hear you. Continue to teach us how to know you. I love you!

What God said tonight:

Today I know was rough for you but you did not lose hope and that is good.

I want you to know that this is real. This is exactly what I have for you at this time. This is exactly what I had hoped for you. There are a lot of things you don't understand right now. You will someday.

Your trust in me needs to continue each day. It needs to be new and fresh each day just as my love and my mercy are new each day for you. This relationship, our relationship will never get stale as long as we continue to start each day with a newness and freshness. This relationship will remain alive, active and powerful as long as we both continue to pour into it every day.

I have already promised you I will never leave you nor forsake. I have promised you I will be with you always. I have promised you that I will guide you always. Have you, can you make the same commitment to me? Can you promise me you will never leave me, never turn your back on me, never get stale and forget the miracle that I am in your life? Please don't answer glibly. Please take your time.

That is the commitment I need from you to move into the next season. I need you to know that you will never leave me. I need you to know that you will never turn your back on me. I need you to know that your commitment to me is as strong as my commitment to you. Through any battle, through any trouble, you and me forever.

Please, take time to think this through and when you are ready to make that commitment, let me know. I love you first and always.