Timing

We look for things that we can do!

We want to see the results quickly!

We don’t want to struggle and not have the answers!

God is saying trust the Holy Spirit in you.When he calls you to something no matter how big believe and don’t get weary! We struggle with knowing if we are hearing Gods voice or our own. That is part of growing in the spirit and I believe when we are doing that working in the light which we believe we have been given God will honor that. He is not about playing gotcha! You didn’t do exactly what I wanted so your screwed! He is about life and a life more abundant. So saddle up your hours we havea trail to blaze!

Sow a Seed

I was struck by the realization of the thousands of seeds of prayer that have resulted in me being where I am today. If “every prayer is like a seed that gets planted in the ground. It disappears for a season, but it eventually bears fruit that blesses future generations”, then think about all the prayers that have been prayed over each of us in this family. Dad and I are the results of the hours of prayer for us from our grandparents and parents – very specific ones and general ones faithfully prayed day after day – that God would protect us, that He would bring Godly spouses into our lives, that His purpose would be accomplished for acceptance into medical school, that we would successfully pass all the tests that were necessary to continue, that we would be directed and accepted into residency programs in the same city, that our practices would flourish, that we would find a church to connect and grow, and on and on. Then when you all joined the family, the prayers for you started and continue to this day. Where each of you are is a direct result of the prayers from your great-grandparents, grandparents, and parents – your children and future children will be shaped by those prayers as well.

It is human nature to want to see immediate answers but that is not always the plan in God’s kingdom. And continuing with the agriculture theme, it takes work to till the soil, recognize and get rid of weeds, apply the right fertilizer – think of all the commercials during IU games 🙂

As Pastor Batterson states, “We need the patience of the planter, the foresight of the farmer, and the mind-set of the sower” I am determined to resist the temptation to stop planting seeds of prayer and persevere with specific and God-directed prayers of faith expecting God to bring the harvest of blessing to me and to future generations.

Day 6

One day late, but I loved this one. I feel like so many times in my life I do not ask for huge things because in my head it is unrealistic. That is so wrong and really faithless. I love how he said “when we pray, we relieve ourselves of responsibility.” Our job is to pray, it is God’s job to answer.

Get your feet wet

Got a little bit of a late start to today’s reading, but man was it powerful. This weekend God showed up in my life. As you all know, I have dealt with lingering anxiety/fear/doubt over the last year that usually bottlenecks before a flight/travel for some reason unknown. Before this weekend I used to calm myself down by reassuring that if it really got bad I could drink some booze and take a xanax and I would be fine. Although I never had to actually do either of those things, the thought helped me calm down and get through the storm. This weekend, that all changed. I didn’t pack my single xanax pill that I have had since January and stepped into my proverbial Jordan River and God showed up. I did not have a single anxious thought on my flight home. Faith to me in my infancy walk with God has been so difficult to grasp. It seems like such an easy thing until the walls are coming down and more often than not when that happens you turn back to self-reliance. However, for the first time I relinquished control and allowed God to be my support. I never thought I would feel the way I do. And it is confusing, exhilarating and frustrating all at the same time because all I want is to have my new path laid before me and to never have a negative thought from the past again. But as MB says faith comes BEFORE the show. So I am going to continue taking small steps of faith everyday and continue to pray bigger dreams for I know that God will show up.

**Sorry if this is poorly written, been working at Starbucks all day.

 

Love,

Ben

Opportunities

We can’t plan God-ordained opportunities. All we can do is seize them.  As I read the section today I couldn’t help but realize that one of Pastor Batterson’s mantra prayers was answered when Ben listened to his podcast several months ago. Thanks Ben for seizing the opportunity and for now challenging us to immerse in this prayer challenge.  Today my prayer is that our eyes will be opened to the opportunities that God has ordained. Love you all!

Day 2: God will get us there

For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. – 2 Chron. 4:17-18

Today, God pressed into my soul deeper than He has ever before. With yesterday being the beginning of the challenge, I made up my mind to humble myself before God and to have full faith in Him. It was a terrifying day to die to self pride and no longer feel like I was in control. But today I am stronger and I can only imagine how I will feel in 40 days.

 

The past year I may have said, thought or even went through the motions of that very simple, but difficult task. All of these attempts were merely idols getting in the way of what God wanted to do. I thought I needed to give myself an ‘out’ just in case God didn’t come through. No longer. I am fully enveloping myself in His glory.  Not sure what my walk will look like after 40 days, but I know it will look a whole lot stronger and more aligned with His plan than it is now. It that gives me a great sense of holy anticipation.

This morning we all read that God wants us to get where God wants us to go more than we want to get where God wants us to go. We have to relinquish control and believe that He will get us there and it will look a whole lot prettier than if we tried to do it ourselves. Lets all prayer larger than life prayers, so that when God answers we have no choice but to give him ALL of the glory. I do not think it is a coincidence that we all are facing a time of confusion right now. God wanted it that way so He can show up big time through this prayer challenge and change the trajectory of each and every one of our lives. Although we all find ourselves in different stages of our walk with God, I believe this 40 days will radically alter them for the better

 

-Ben