Sunday, July 17, 2016

On Clinging to Those 4 Sacred Words



Don't you just love that we can be our authentic selves with our Heavenly Father?

This most sacred of relationships ain't no masquerade party, friend.  There's no place for masks, filters, fancy language, or pious platitudes as we gaze deeply into our Redeemer's loving eyes.  When we begin to truly get that He already knows what's deeply encased in our wrecked souls and yet loves us anyway, we get one of those sparkling 'aha' moments where we are freed, standing vulnerable yet strangely unashamed before Him, our needy hearts linking fully to His holiness.

There's no condemnation for those who are in, who are with, who are owned and loved by Christ Jesus.

And in that great grace-filled mercy that defines who He is, He invites us to place all our burdens and baggage, fears and hopes, traumas and dramas right on the table of His presence in all their raw, agonizing, ugly reality.  We name them each and every one, as we let go, surrender, and relinquish their powerful hold over our souls.

Not an easy task, is it.

Yet we know that there have been seasons when the only thing we could do was pray.  Unspeakable tragedies, private heartaches, unanswerable questions, and major decisions seem to come at us like relentless waves pounding on a sandy beach at high tide, eroding our hope, our energy, our zest for life.  After awhile, there seem to be no more words left to speak to God.  He's already heard it all from our groaning overloaded hearts.

But this, the prayer that never fails, the one spoken by Jesus Himself.

Thy  .  Will  .  Be  .  Done.

I find I'm breathing that simple plea more and more these days.  I'm long past done trying to be the Savior of the world or someone's Holy Spirit.  I've run out of words, my heart empties.  I release all I hold dear to Him.

I'm thinking He must love this simple yet oh-so-powerful four word sacrifice He taught us to pray.  Because it leaves the results in His hands.  Instead of me figuring it all out for Him, telling Him what to do, how to do it, when to have it done by.

I love that about my Savior.  He knows the end from the beginning.  And time and again He has shown me this unalterable truth.

He  .  Does  .  All  .  Things  .  Well.

He is worthy to be trusted.  He is worthy to be praised.


30 comments:

  1. Your thoughts today go along so well with my quiet time thought and reading from Scripture, Linda. I'm praising Him today for being my Deliverer--not just in the past but every day of my life. That's such a comforting reality for those who ache from pain, loss and injustice. He's near the brokenhearted for sure! Hugs to you, girlfriend! Your words inspire us all.

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    1. Don't you love when kindred spirit thoughts head in the same heavenward direction? We are not alone in this journey!

      Grateful to do life with you, Beth, even from afar ...

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  2. Thy will be done. Such a hard, hard prayer. But such a perfect one. I'm glad we have Jesus's example. May I be brave enough to pray it, too. Thanks for sharing this, Linda.

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    1. What an example is He. He truly gets where we are, having been here on earth and experienced much of what we have.

      What a wonderful Savior!

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  3. Ah. I have had a difficult time uttering those words for a long time. You need courage if you want to follow God's will.

    Beautifully written.

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    1. Absolutely, Lux. This is not a prayer that we utter mindlessly. Thankfully, the Spirit helps us in our weakness ... we are never alone.

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  4. Amen! Have a beautiful week dear Linda!

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  5. So very true and well said, my friend!

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  6. Perfect........just perfect for me. After 2 weeks of crying, anger, sleepless nights, not eating I just laid it at His feet. I can't change anything so I've given my daughter to God. He's got her in His hands and I can rest........Thanks for those encouraging words, Linda!

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    1. Oh, I hear the cry of your mama's heart, Valerie. Our kids always remain our kids ... no matter what their ages. This is a hard releasing, isn't it.

      Praying for you, for her, for your family even as we speak.

      Jesus whispers, 'peace, be still.'

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  7. Amen, my friend. I've been praying that prayer quite a lot lately myself. Blessings on your week :)

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    1. It takes the pressure off us thinking we need to figure out what God should do, yes?

      ;-}

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  8. Why is those words are so easy to say for the most part but are particularly hard to practice? I do want His will...but really? Just some things I'm pondering as a result of your post.

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    1. Ponder away, my pastor friend. You're in good company. Most of us find it quite refreshing when a 'man of the cloth' admits that he wrestles with issues of faith.

      No one's arrived yet, right?

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  9. "Thy will be done." - The prayer that Jan Karon penned as the one that is always answered. That has stuck with me over the years, and you so beautifully reminded me of its power here, Linda.
    Blessings!

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    1. I'm a big fan of her 'Father Tim' and her Mitford series, too!

      ;-}

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  10. OK...when I saw the 'four words', I thought you were talking about the ones that will appear (in the world I would choose!) on my tombstone as my last words in this life...

    "Yo! Dude! Watch THIS!"

    And maybe in a way I am not so far off the mark. We take stupid risks sometimes that are an implicit leap into Jesus' arms.

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    1. Our last words in this life. Now THAT'S a fascinating subject ... whatcha bet that what we THINK we'll say is a far cry from what will actually come from our lips!

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  11. Amen and amen! Thy will be done. I have heard those four word frequently as of late. God knows everything that holds us back and everything that drives us forward. But He is in charge of the forward and backward. Releasing it all to Him is the beautiful prayer I imagine God longs to hear from each of us. Beautiful offering!

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    1. I love how you put this, Mary -->' He is in charge of the forward and backward.'

      Try as we might, we'll never be in charge! Yes, HE's the One who calls the shots! When will we learn?

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  12. As I get to know you better, your words take on so much more significance for me. Yes, those four words do stick in my throat at times. So hard to come to God open handed. Just finished reading The Daniel Prayer by Anne Graham Lotz. Phew. Convicting all over the place. And now this from you . . .

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    1. I remember hearing Anne Graham Lotz preach at a counseling conference years ago and remember thinking, 'man is she GOOD!'

      No surprise to hear that the book was convicting, too.

      And yes, getting to know you this year has been a sweet gift. Your wisdom inspires and spurs me on, Michele ...

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  13. Of course this is the answer to our peace, giving up trying to be God and surrendering to his will. I just wish they were the first words I say rather than only saying them when I'm exhausted from saying 'my will be done'. Those words will never bring peace. Thanks for this reminder, Linda.

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    1. I'm with you, Debby. I wish they were my automatic go-to response. 'My will be done' never cuts it.

      How much time we waste, how much peace we forfeit ..

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  14. Amen! Not my will.....
    If only that were easier to remember each time, my heart would stay at peace.

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    1. Ain't that the truth, Sarah ... no wonder we often feel like we're on a spiritual roller coaster.

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