Your words…

And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you except to fear the Lord your God by walking in all His ways, to love Him, and to worship the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul? Keep the Lord’s commands and statutes I am giving you today, for your own good. You are to fear Yahweh your God and worship Him. Remain faithful to Him.  Deuteronomy 10:12-13, 20

My words…

Praise

What do You ask of me, Lord? The same thing You asked of the Israelites of old: Walk with You. Love You. Obey You. Worship You. In other words, remain faithful. You don’t ask this out of an egotistical need to be idolized. You ask it because it is for my own good. Mine. All that You ask of me is for my benefit. Whatever wisdom I have gathered is from You as I have walked in Your ways. Whatever unconditional love I have shown was first shown to me by You. Whatever humility I have learned is from falling prostrate before Your throne in worship. When my will submits to Yours, I win! And that’s exactly how you planned it all along.

Forgive me

I have been on this faith walk with You for decades. For the most part, I have remained faithful, certainly not to my credit, but because of Your pursuit of me. But I have my days, don’t I? I look into the sky and say, “I think I’ve been duped. This is all too good to be true.” Then a hummingbird flits by and hovers over my butterfly bush, and I see Your power in the blur of its wings. In my spirit I know that it is all too good to be true. But it’s true nonetheless. Forgive my immature, faltering faith. After all of these decades, I am without excuse.

Prayer for others

I know so many former believers. At one time, their faith was alive and vibrant, but over time, it faded, like drapes hung too long in a sunny window. I have forgotten the names of some of them. They rarely cross my path anymore. We don’t hang out in the same places. But just because their faith is faded doesn’t mean it isn’t there at all. They may not have remained faithful to You, but You remain faithful to them. I may have forgotten their names, but You haven’t. I pray there will come a day when they look at a hummingbird’s wings and remember You.

Thank You

Thank You for Your faithfulness to me. Your love for me does not waver. You do not grow restless and impatient with me. You are the One True Constant.

More praise

Take my inadequate praise of You from my saturated heart and make it perfect on its journey to Your heavens, so that by the time it reaches You, it will be beautiful and worthy. As an expression of my love to You, I offer these two words: I remain.