Chapter Eleven- Sweet Hour of Prayer

Becoming A Woman Of Prayer-Online Study

Chapter Eleven-

Sweet Hour of Prayer

(Becoming A Woman Of Prayer, © Cynthia Heald, June 2005.  Used by permission of NavPress, all rights reserved.  www.navpress.com)

"For a day in Thy courts is better than a thousand outside. I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God, than dwell in the tents of wickedness.'" 

PSALM  84:10 NIV

Last night we concluded the last chapter in our study of "Becoming a Woman of Prayer" by following in this chapter's lead of a directed time of prayer. We had candles, some music (wish I could play an instrument and sing) and about 45 minutes of prayer whilst sitting encircled around a box of tissues. (We're criers.) 

I have been thankful to go through this study and so blessed to study alongside the women who have attended. Oddly enough, while I was certain I would feel more confident in my prayer life, I only find more confidence in God. While I'd hoped I'd grow in my leadership, I feel more inept and evermore aware of my need for reliance on Him. While I hoped we'd have more in attendance, I am encouraged and blessed by the women who did come. They were just who needed to be there and who God moved in. He is good. He is our All in All. He is the Reason. He is the goal. He is the means to bring us to Himself. 

Thank you, if you followed in this study. I pray the Holy Spirit encouraged you and drew you into deeper intimacy with our God through a deeper understanding of who He is and in time with Him. 

Thank you to Cynthia Heald and NavPress who wrote and published this study and who allowed me to  share this study here. 

Thank you Jesus for making yourself so accessible to us and for loving us more than we can comprehend. 

Chapter Ten- Accepting God's Invitation

 Becoming A Woman Of Prayer-Online Study

Chapter Ten-

Accepting God's Invitation

(Becoming A Woman Of Prayer, © Cynthia Heald, June 2005.  Used by permission of NavPress, all rights reserved.  www.navpress.com)

"Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice, 

And be gracious to me and answer me. 

When Thou didst say, 'Seek My face,' my heart said to thee, 

'Thy face, O LORD, I shall seek.'" 

PSALM  27:7-8 NIV

God designed us for relationship, primarily relationship with Himself, but also relationship with each other. He designed the first marriage and the first family. He watched as we broke fellowship with Him in our first sin, He watched a family divide in the first murder and yet since the beginning He was working to reconcile it all. 

Though Christ has made the way for reconciliation with Him, life is still wrought with pain and broken relationships here in this life. Have you ever been in an intimate relationship, friendship or romantic, that ended badly? It'd be a impossibility for anyone to claim this truth and if they did, perhaps they aren't being honest with themselves because we, are still broken here. 

There may be some people in your life, or not but I hope so, who you feel utterly at home with. With this person(s), some of your favorite moments in your life (to date) have included them. They, who see all of you and still love you. God knows our desire for emotional intimacy and ultimately, our deepest relationship lies in Him. The hole we so desperately fill with people is meant for Him. It is with Him where we are loved, cherished and pursued without false motive or selfish intent. We are made whole with/to/in/by Him. 

In this chapter we will learn how to accept God's invitation to us in prayer and, as always, the chapter is divided into two sections. 

Prayer in Solitude (1)

Even Jesus took time alone to pray as shared in Mark 1:35, "Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed." Alone time with God is crucial for our growth and crucial for our sustenance. 

The secret conversations, alone and in the presence of our God is where the intimacy happens, where we show Him our heart and He shows us His. It's where we can sit emotionally and spiritually naked and His feet. It is there, He provides the warmth of His love, the grace for our shame and the love/acceptance we need. There is no faking it here. There are no pretenses. It's not even about where or how we do it, He just wants us to want Him. 

We've learned so much about how God meets us and provides for us in prayer. Cynthia reminds us in scripture that we should "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." (I Thess 5:16-18). 

"Prayer will be fatiguing to both flesh and blood if uttered aloud and sustained long. Oral prayer and prayer mentally ordered in words though not spoken cannot be engaged in without ceasing. Instead there is an undercurrent of prayer that may run continually under the stream of our thoughts and never weary us. Such prayer is the silent breathing of the Spirit of God who dwells in our hearts." 

-David M'Intyre (2)

Our Lord wants a sincere heart of prayer. Who of us wants a public declaration of love and praise without genuine adoration in private? Who of us wants to be "loved" only when others are watching? It's much like the wedding without the marriage. 

Prayer in Community (3)

"When two or more believers come together to pray, they often come with different ideas about what to ask and a different understanding about what the will of God is in the matter. One may think that God wants to heal the sick. Another may think that He is bringing a trial of illness to teach the afflicted. But as they seek agreement and unity of request, they begin to hear the voice of God gradually conforming their differing thoughts...into the will of God. And their prayer is answered." -Kent R Wilson (4)

I fear sometimes community prayer takes the place of my prayer in solitude. It should not, it should add to it. 

This chapter discusses fasting and it's purposes. This is this weeks challenge: that you find one meal, to opt out of the meal and spend that time being filled with Him. Being sure to make it a private moment and focusing your prayer on deeper intimacy. 

Lord, thank you again for truth and for the scripture that richly declares of your glory and pursuit of us. I confess my failing to meet you alone regularly. I confess that I need you and the comfort of your Spirit to feel at home and complete. God, I ask that you continue to teach me to pray in solitude, in community and all day long. I want to accept you invitation to deeper relationship through prayer. Help me through the power of you Spirit to do this. 

**See the this post for a schedule and a preview of 2013. 

(1-4) Becoming A Woman Of Prayer, © Cynthia Heald, June 2005.  Used by permission of NavPress, all rights reserved.  www.navpress.com 

Chapter Nine- Persevering in Prayer

  Becoming A Woman Of Prayer-Online Study

Chapter Nine-

Persevering in Prayer

(Becoming A Woman Of Prayer, © Cynthia Heald, June 2005.  Used by permission of NavPress, all rights reserved.  www.navpress.com)

"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful." COLOSSIANS 4:2 NIV

I opted to use this weeks verse in this translation because of one word: devote. 

What do you think of when you hear "devote"? What comes to my mind is Olivia Newton-John belting out her heart singing "Hopelessly Devoted to You" and if you don't know what song that is...my heart breaks for you. I recall singing loud in the car some song of heartbreak over one boy or another. Fortunate for many, that no one ever had to hear it. As silly as it is, most of us can remember a time in our teen years when we declared some sort of teenage devotion to someone, whether it had been a boy crush or crazed infatuation for a star or band, we get it.

Now in my adult years, devotion looks different. It is rarely propelled merely by hormones or emotion, but by a sense of responsibility, a wisdom of the greater purpose or simply love. Some examples would include laundry (sense of responsibility), wisdom of the greater purpose (paying off debt) and love (my husband and children). Some of these things overlap and some don't (ie. I will never love laundry). The point here is that almost anyone can relate to devotion. 

In this verse, the author (Paul) is telling the Colossians to "devote (themselves) to prayer"and I wonder if we take it seriously. Similar to the reasons I mentioned above we pray out of a sense of responsibility (it's what "good" christians do), out of a wisdom of the greater purpose (this is my face time with God) and sometimes, and I would dare to say, not nearly enough do we do it with an attitude of love for our God or for others. If we are devoted to prayer then we do it because we ought to, we see the greater purpose of presenting our hearts and requests to God and because love those who need Him and we love Him and His purposes. We, then, will pray without ceasing (1 Thess 5:17) until our prayer is answered (yes, no or wait) or He changes our hearts. This is not as easy as it seems. 

"When we feel least like praying is the time when we most need to pray. We should wait quietly before God and tell Him how cold and prayer less our hearts are, and look up to Him and trust Him and expect Him to send the Holy Spirit to warm our hearts and draw them out in prayer. It will not be long before the glow of the Spirit's presence will fill our hearts, and we will begin to pray with freedom, directness, earnestness and power." R.A. Torrey (1)

This chapter is about Persevering in Prayer and is divided into two sections:

Devotion to Prayer (2)

Cynthia shares two example of devotion to prayer in scripture. In James 5:13-18, it reads:

"Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops."

Elijah prayed "earnestly" and the rain stopped for more than three years...how often do we pray for a week and give up. God's timing and will are not ours. We should pray as if tomorrow is the day He may answer and if isn't, keep praying until He shows us a different plan. 

Gratitude in Prayer (3)

The second half of this week's verse is "be watchful and thankful." Elijah told his servant each day to go out and look (1 Kings 18:41-44) in the direction of the sea for the rain the Lord promised. SEVEN times the servant went and looked and it wasn't until the seventh time that the storm cloud was seen. God asks us to trust Him, to be watching for His promises and to give Him thanks for His faithfulness. 

"Praise and thanksgiving do not magically change my circumstances. they radically alter my viewpoint. Praise and thanksgiving bring me back into the presence of God, where there is fullness of joy and pleasure evermore." -Jennifer Kennedy Dean (4)

For years I prayed that we would be allowed to move because I believed it would be better. I also prayed acknowledging that the Lord my tomorrows and I did not and prayed that if moving would be foolish to stop it. He did. Every single time. We tried to move at least 3 times. The last time was about 6 years ago and I could not understand His will and yet my prayer remained until He changed my heart about a year ago and helped to show me His purposes for us here. The relationships, the ministry, the daily dependance on Him are all a part of His plan for us that we can see...I know there is more at work which we do not even know yet, but I trust Him and I thank Him for His answer and that it was no. Scripture tells us God is not slow in keeping His promises (1 Peter 3:9) yet He knows our impatience and His answer is trust me and seek me every day. 

Persevere. Devote. Watch. Give Him Thanks. 

Don't be Hopelessly Devoted. Be devoted to the God of Hope. 

This weeks challenge: 

Examine your life and observe what draws your devotion. Is it our Lord or has life's distractions or wants taken His place in your life. Pray without ceasing. Pray for the things that seem ridiculous. Pray for the things you gave up on and all the while pray for your heart to know His plan. He hears us. He answers us. He helps us. 

Lord Jesus, You are not slow in keeping Your promises. Forgive my impatience and foolishness for believing that I know better than you. Help me to know Your heart and seek Your will and to do it every day. I ask for Your Spirit to guide me in prayer to offer up anything in my life that I put in front of my devotion to You and how to pray as an intercessor for those who need you. God you are good. You are so good to me. Thank you Father. I love You and trust You. 

**See the this post for a schedule and a preview of 2013. 

(1-4) Becoming A Woman Of Prayer, © Cynthia Heald, June 2005.  Used by permission of NavPress, all rights reserved.  www.navpress.com 

Sold Out

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Galatians 2:20

Perspective is so relative, isn't it? Before marriage and kids, I thought I was busy. After my first child, I thought how ridiculous it was that I even believed I was "busy" before. And now, after three kids, I look back on all of it and laugh. I have to be careful to bite my tongue when someone, like me, views their life as I did and thinks..."how can it possibly get busier?" 
It can. 
But they'll figure it out soon enough, just like I did. 

My walk with Jesus has been the same. I look back at journal entries from years back or even blog posts from two years ago and think to myself in comparison to the relationship I have with my Lord now, "Oh my gosh! I don't even KNOW if I was saved before!" 
I was. 
At least, I think I was... ha ha. The point is that it's changed. My relationship has grown deeper and the Lord is revealing more of HImself to me. I'm learning to listen to His voice more.... and yet, there is always more of Him to know. There is never a time when He will say, "Welp, that's all folks!" Never. 
His sign will never read "sold out!"  

On the flip side, I reflect on whether or not I am "sold out" for Him. Is there more of me that I need to offer to Him? Is there more of me that I have been holding back? Is there any part of me I keep for myself or for the world? When the world comes-a-knockin' can I say, "Sorry folks, there's none left because I'm already His." (I don't know why I suddenly speak in a southern dialect, but I'm thinking it's  just gosh-darn sweeter.. hee hee) I know that I have and do hold back. That sometimes I straight up decide I'm going to do what I want to do.... and I fail. Frequently.  

What I want to be is "Sold Out"....because we're all a slave to something whether we want to admit it or not. 

I want to be a slave to Christ.












"a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God-" Romans 1:1

“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other." -Matthew 6:24

"What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means! Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?  But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teachingthat has now claimed your allegiance. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness." - Romans 6:15-18

Chapter 1- Invitation to Intimacy

BECOMING A WOMAN OF PRAYER-Online Study

Chapter One
Invitation to Intimacy
(Becoming A Woman Of Prayer, © Cynthia Heald, June 2005.  Used by permission of NavPress, all rights reserved.  www.navpress.com )

“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”
JEREMIAH 33:3, NIV

I remember the day clearly. It was a warm summer day in 2008 and we were on our way to take my daughter to her weekly dance lessons. I had just phoned (this was before the cell phone law) and left a message to my friend Stephanie to ask if she and her kids wanted to hang out later. My older two kids had been arguing in the back row of our suburban over a water bottle and after hanging up the phone I recall telling them to "cut it out!" Almost immediately after, my oldest cries out, "Mooooooooommmmmmm! She woooon't give it to meeeeee!" So, like any gentle, quiet spirit like myself (ahem...not), I whipped my head around to yell out, "Would you JUST give him the water bottle!!!"

And then it happened.

My right tires went off the road next to our local lake and we were at a severe angle at 35 mph and couldn't pull out of it. Our large and seemingly indestructible vehicle scraped along the side of a tree, simultaneously blowing out each of the right passenger windows tossing bits of glass throughout the car until we stopped approximately 6 inches short of a power pole. The kids were freaking out, my daughter's face was bleeding, my heart felt like it was beating in my throat and my hands were trembling. "oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh...." was all I could utter.

A CDF (California Department of Forestry) worker happened to be at the lake that day and immediately ran over to help. Then my phone rang, my hands and voice were shaking so hard I'm surprised I could manage to open it up and squeak out, "hello?". It was my friend returning my call. I told her what happened and after a chuckle, she said, "oh no, really? I'll be right there..." Not only did she show up, she brought her husband and both their cars and extra car seats. She and her husband drove us down to the hospital so my daughter, Catie, could have her nose laceration glued up. They waited with us, took us to lunch, spent time with us til my husband could meet up with us. I remember feeling so taken care of and loved by my friend that day. Having an unexpected shock and immediate need- she came. I knew she was a great friend before but you see, I had merely called her for fellowship and in my need she revealed her character and love for me in how she responded. I believe with everything in me that, on the day of the accident, God had that tree there to keep us from rolling, that the timing of the accident prevented us from hitting another tree head on, that the CDF and my dear friend were available to me in a tangible way because of God's provision. He revealed Himself in all of it. 

When I read the verse listed in Jeremiah 33:3 as God says, “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” God is promising us that when we pray and call out, He will show up, that we don't need to leave a message because he HEARS and WILL respond. He promises that HE WILL tell (us) great and unsearchable things (we) do not know, revealing His character and unwavering love for us!

"What if God does not demand prayer as much as gives prayer? What if God wants prayer in order to satisfy us? What if prayer is a means of God nourishing, restoring, healing, converting us? Suppose prayer is primarily allowing ourselves to be loved, addressed and claimed by God. What if praying means opening ourselves to the gift of God’s own self and presence? What if our part in prayer is primarily letting God be giver? Suppose prayer is not a duty but the opportunity to experience healing and transforming love?
MARTIN SMITH"(1)

This chapter is all about God calling us into His presence. He "stands at the door and knocks". He invites us to spend time with himself and is pleased when we, as his children, fellowship with Him.

In the book, Cynthia shares:
"Understanding that God wants to impart spiritual strength and refreshment encourages me to feel that I don’t have to come with a full agenda when I meet with God. He has invited me — and so I respond by choosing to answer His request for fellowship.How good it is to view prayer as an opportunity to receive from the Lord and as a time to “yield a sweet savour unto God.” "(2)

He wants us, He listens to us and wants to reveal more of His character, grace and faithfulness to us. He created us, delights in us and is glorified when we delight in him.

This weeks challenge: post this verse somewhere you'll have opportunity to read it everyday. That may be on your fridge, your bathroom mirror or the dashboard of your car. Meditate on this verse as you spend time with your God and your Savior. Pray and ask God to reveal more of himself to you this week. Breathe in this promise offering your time and worship to our God as a "sweet aroma" and offering unto Him.

He invites you.

Heavenly Father, you are faithful and your words are true! Thank you for loving me so much that you made a way for us to have a relationship through your son, Jesus.  Thank you God that you give us your Spirit and you give us prayer so we may know you more, so we can talk with you and so we can hear from you. Forgive me for underestimating the magnitude of your love for me. Forgive me for wasting my time, years really, that could have been spent with you. Lord, I want to know you more.
In your son's precious name,
Amen


If you still don't have your book, you can order a digital or physical copy here.


(1-2) Becoming A Woman Of Prayer, © Cynthia Heald, June 2005.  Used by permission of NavPress, all rights reserved.  www.navpress.com

Praying in a Puddle

Lately, during my prayer and worship time, it's become the norm that they both bring me to tears. Maybe it's that both of these face-times with God have drawn me closer to Him over these past few years. Maybe it's that I am amazed at His love, overwhelmed by His grace and so thankful He meets me in these times. All these are probably true and I've resigned myself to requiring a box of tissues more often.

Actually, it's almost every single time.

As I am reading and praying in preparation for our upcoming study of prayer, I confess I am tad nervous that I may be a mess at each meeting. The great thing is God wants my mess. He wants that time with me because he loves me and there is something in that time, though puffy-eyed and through choked up words, that grants such peace. We pray to and praise an amazing God whose love is unfathomable and yet it meets my every need and covers, through the blood of Jesus, my every failure and my every inadequacy.

The puddle I stand in is not just an overflow of my grateful tears. It's the raining down of His answers to my pleas. It's the pouring out of His spirit over me. It's His cleansing me of my transgressions and making me clean in His presence because of the work of Christ.

When was the last time God's presence overwhelmed you to tears? Jump in the puddle and dance in His Reign. :)

Holy Hush

There are seasons, and I'm thankful they aren't frequent, when I feel quiet. There are those who know me who know that if this is the case "something" must be wrong and usually that's true. Like anyone, I struggle with self doubt, regret and failure. It is a daily battle to combat the lies of satan with the truth of God's word. 

I think back over times when I've observed my very active children have moments of quiet. These times are usually secondary to a fever, exhaustion or hurt feelings. We, as moms, know just how to respond when these moments come up with our sweet babies. We can treat the fever, put them to bed early and encourage them to pray and talk it out, but in any of these scenarios if we take the time to think about it, it really helps just to hold them and sit with them. There is something special about getting to hold your child and let their bodies slump into your arms and rest. I find it to be one of my most treasured gifts of motherhood, to get to be the arms of comfort for our children. 

For me, I'm happy to do it for my kiddos, but if I'm on the receiving end, this drives my extroverted self crazy. I recall times when my sweet introverted husband attempts this with me and don't get me wrong, being held is fantastic. It's just that sometimes I need a word or two or two hundred. This difference in our personalities is one of the biggest struggles because I want to hear from him. To hear his heart and hear he's got a plan and when I've shared this desire, he winces because he tries, but it's just not something that comes naturally to him. But he does try. And he loves me. 

With my dear friends, they offer counsel, encouragement and pray with/for me. They are my "turtle shell" and hold up their "shields of faith" over me. They too, love me.

There is one place I can and need to go when I'm feeling like this and where my silence is not just good, but required and I'm shamed to say, historically I have not been great at allowing moments like these. I have too busy planning, thinking and talking and as I grow older, I'm learning to appreciate the quiet.

Psalm 131:1-2

1 My heart is not proud, Lord, my eyes are not haughty: I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. 2 But I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with it's mother: like a weaned child I am content. 

This is written by the great king David. Amongst all the things that happened to him, through him and because of him I think it's intriguing that he "doesn't concern (himself) with great matters or things too wonderful for (him)". He was a great king and a man "after God's own heart"...and by my estimation that seems like, if anyone, he COULD concern himself with great matters and things too wonderful. 

He didn't. 

He knew exactly what he wanted and where he would find his sustenance: in God's arms. He even goes on to say he has "calmed and quieted" himself and like a "child with it's mother...he is content. Davids' quiet wasn't because of sadness or self pity or the flu...but he purposefully quieted himself so he could rest in his Lord. 

Whatever the cause for my moments of quiet, whatever the state of my life I need to calm and quiet myself and find contentment in my Jesus. His arms are strong enough to hold the heaviest of loads and yet gentle enough to comfort and reassure. We can slump into his embrace and cry. We can sit and lean our heads against his holy heart and listen in the quiet to the enormity of his love for us. He wants to be that for us. Every. Single. Day. 

Are you quiet today?

Do you need a hushed moment with Jesus amidst the busyness you create for yourself? 

Has the world overwhelmed you to the point of hiding?

Sit on the lap of Jesus. Be quiet and be loved. 

Desperate housewives

I want to be a desperate housewife. You're probably thinking, "huh?" or "a what?". This is not a flattering image of a woman in most senses. Women, throughout history have been desperate for many things and been willing to sacrifice themselves or something treasured out of desperation for something they WANT. But what if my desperation isn't for the right clothes, the pampered life, attention from men, self advancing opportunity or a perfect figure. What if, instead, I am desperate for God. I am already His child, so what is the root of my desperation. I desperately want to KNOW Him more, need to SEEK Him more, to SERVE him more and live my life as a woman, wife, mother, sister, daughter, and friend only and ever to Honor His name.

There are certainly days when the circumstances are trying. When I feel lost in a flurry of the busyness that I create for myself. When my plans fail, my confidence wavers and my heart
breaks. I should then, like I'm lost in a storm, cling to the one constant I have which is my Lord. He IS my mighty fortress.

There are also days when the circumstances seem to "go my way". When everything falls into place, is a success and I feel good. I should then, point all success back to the one who causes the earth to spin on it's axis and who holds all creation in the palm of His hand. My accomplishments, if not done for His glory, are futile and empty.

des·per·ate   [des-per-it, -prit]-
1. Having lost all hope; despairing.
2. Marked by, arising from, or showing despair:
3. Reckless or violent because of despair:
4. Undertaken out of extreme urgency or as a last resort:
5. Nearly hopeless; critical
6. Suffering or driven by great need or distress.
7. Extremely intense:

This definition is not flattering or even encouraging. In fact, it sounds rather pathetic and weak. I don't believe that having a spirit that is desperate for God equates to an anxious, erratic or hopeless demeanor. On the contrary, our dependance and reliance for the Lord should inspire and reveal His strengths and power. "In my weakness, He is strong".

The desperation I describe fuels a persons heart to be hungry for God's word, coveting time with Him and feeling anxious to know HIM more. I should be anxious or desperate for nothing else than my Lord. Nothing else than my Lord. Where is my time spent? Where is my
money spent? What is the focus of my desires? What have I given up out of desperation for something selfish? What could i give up to free me from worldly pressure and allow me to have an eternal perspective? Is it ALL about me...or ALL about Him?

I AM a desperate housewife- clinging to, anxious for, putting my hope in, intensely desperate for my God.

Hosea 6:3 (NKJV) Let us know, Let us pursue the knowledge of the LORD. His going forth is established as the morning; He will come to us like the rain, Like the latter and former rain to the earth.

Psalms 27:7-8 (NKJV) Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice! Have mercy also upon me, and answer me. {8} When You said, "Seek My face," My heart said to You, "Your face, LORD, I will seek."

Deuteronomy 4:29 But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.

Isaiah 26:9 My soul yearns for you in the night; in the morning my spirit longs for you.

Quiet

Feeling quiet today.

WHAT? I know. I just don't particularly feel like I have a lot or much to say.

 I like it. You may like it too and respond, "Please! Be quiet more often."

Quiet in my head. Quiet in my heart. Quiet in my spirit. Yearning to be in a place that is quiet.

More often than not, silence makes me uncomfortable.Vulnerable. Alone. I admit that sitting in quiet makes me want to break the silence with words. But If I wait............. and resist the urge to fill the void, it forces me to feel more reflective and to listen.

Today, it feels needed to hear the quiet, making me more aware of the noise that I create in my life. It gives me an opportunity to listen to others, understand their words a little more and think on them. It offers me the calm to soften my heart for God's leading and perhaps just relishing in the time with Him.

I need quiet.

I need my Lord.

Quiet today. Can't promise the same for tomorrow. :)

5 minutes

What??? You don't have time to read my long winded blog posts...what? (gasp) shock! Awe! Nah..I get it. I'm still mothering myself, so short and to-the-point devotions or encouraging words are needed and often..like, now.....help me!!!!! jk

Here's one blog that groups together all kinds of christian mom bloggers...most much better than I..but I read a quote recently (read below) that encouraged me that it's ok if I'm not the best writer, or the most thoughtful thinker or the most popular blog..the point is that we share ourselves and our Lord with the others around us. 

"The woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best." -Henry Van Dyke

Do you have any other blogs or devotions that you read/do when you need 5 minutes of affirmation? What are they?