Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Child-like?

I have been in many a stressful situation lately. My life seems to be moving rather fast, and I feel like I don't have time to sit and reflect on anything. I feel like I am only able to react to whatever comes at me, and then move on. I'm not used to this!
I've taken lately, however, to praying a lot more about everything and anything. If I am not able to handle it, I certainly know that God is! So I hand directly over to him anything that begins to stress me out. I pray out loud, I cry; I do whatever it takes to make my needs known, even though He already knows exactly what they are.
Then I read something in Oswald Chambers' "My Utmost For His Highest" about being child-like before God. I always thought that meant sweet and innocent. But I think I am learning more the real meaning of child-likeness as I go through life, and especially as I work with children every day.
The thing about children is this: they are not necessarily so sweet and innocent. But they have something going for them that many adults don't: they trust their parents without reserve. They make their needs known by crying out to their Mom or Dad, knowing that their needs will be met. Would that we could always be like that with God! I have found that this works. Audacious, child-like prayers are what God wants to hear. We realize that we are indeed still the child, so we don't demand without respect, but rather we ask in total trust that we will be taken care of. It's so easy, only a child would have thought of it!

Monday, August 27, 2007

Contentment in all things.

It's HARD!
Life throws you curves and stresses and large piles of poo in this fallen world, and yet we are called to be content. Paul tells in Philippians that he has learned to be content in all situations and circumstances. He said, "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." It's probably one of verses of the Bible that's taken out of context the most.
It doesn't mean that I can jump off a cliff and fly or disappear or have x-ray vision because Christ gives me strength. Rather, in context, it means that because we have the strength of Christ, we are able and equipped to deal with whatever life throws us.
I'm trying my best to rely on Christ today. My day has sucked, sucked, sucked so far. Stresses are piling up. I know Jesus will help me through it all. I trust that He is both sovereign and good. But that doesn't make it any easier to be content in the midst of madness that is not necessarily of my making!
However, it was pointed out to me by someone quite wise that Paul tells us that he has LEARNED to be content in all things. It is something that must be practiced and prayed over, not something that is easily attained. Paul was a SAINT, after all. But then again, so am I (small "s")... So here I go...