“When you pray, don’t pour out a flood of empty words, as the Gentiles do. They think that by saying many words they’ll be heard. Don’t be like them, because your Father knows what you need before you ask. Pray like this:
Our Father who is in heaven, uphold the holiness of your name. Bring in your kingdom so that your will is done on earth as it’s done in heaven. Give us the bread we need for today. Forgive us for the ways we have wronged you, just as we also forgive those who have wronged us. And don’t lead us into temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.
“If you forgive others their sins, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you don’t forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your sins. – Matthew 6:7-14
THE NEW AX! So, I’m still really excited about my new guitar; the Epiphone Sheraton that my wonderful daughter “crowd-sourced” for my birthday a few weeks ago.
I have already played the guitar a lot – probably every day. But it’s an electric guitar, and I have yet to plug my Sheraton into any kind of an amplifier.
My first guitar was the original Ovation acoustic, and over the years I’ve explored pretty-much every aspect of its performance range. My next Ovation was my “Praise-Band Ax,” designed to retain its acoustic quality when run through an amp. But this new guitar is a completely different kind of instrument, featuring capabilities and potential that I will never even begin to imagine until I plug it in, and begin to use it the way it was designed to be played.
CONNECTION: Earlier this morning I sat here at my computer with no creative thoughts anywhere near my brain, let alone the tips of my fingers and this keyboard, wheels spinning, spiritual torpor setting in. So I took my coffee out onto the deck; 57-degrees, clear air from last night’s rain, sunshine, great breakfast conversation with Rebekah.
We read our morning devotion together, and we thanked God for the new day; we thanked God for the simple yet remarkable fact of life; we thanked God for the opportunity we have, each new day, to engage this world from the foundation of love.
Eventually I made my way back to this desk, and glanced over at my new guitar. It struck me that – every day – I face once again the opportunity to either plug-in to the power source that offers the promise of activating all of my potential as a child of God… or I can remain simply a latent possibility.
CHALLENGE: Life is wonderful, yes, but life is often difficult too. Why not face the challenge of today plugged into the creative powerhouse that imagined, designed, created, still creates, and sustains the Universe?
God isn’t an afterthought, a whimsical invention, an “add-on,” or an “after-market” optional elective. God is the source of light and life! The “good news” that Jesus proclaimed was – and still is – this amazing invitation to live in God’s Kingdom now.
“Now” means today, this morning, this very minute. That’s what “Bring in your kingdom” means. God inhabits this workspace, and when I make the decision to plug into that relationship, then anything – absolutely anything – is possible!
Now if I can just hook up with an amp for that new guitar…..
How great! A new “Ep” and a great commentary. Prayer is essentially no different than talking with a close friend, except the “close friend” is God. I’m sure He’s a better listener than any mortal friend. Sometimes it takes a long time for us to hear His answer. The trick is to live our lives in such a manner that we’re continuously receptive.
But you, when you pray go into your room and when you have shut your door ,pray to the Father who is in the secret place and your Father who sees in secret will reward openly.( Matthew 6:6
This is a wonderful post. Over the years, I have come to see God as the Ultimate power source. He is the Great Creator. He is Creation and He is Creativity. I have been blessed with His influence over my everyday life, as well as my creative life. I struggled for a number of years to write. I just wanted to create. To bless and inspire others. First, I had to find and acknowledge my inner artist. Then I had to accept that God is the original Artist. He wants us to be creative. To inspire. To share. I love reading your posts. Thank you so much for sharing your faith with us.
Thanks for your excellent and encouraging comment! God is the Great Creator, and we honor God’s image in us when we are creative.
Peace – DEREK
Why does it seem that so often we want to do just that. Make God an “add on” to out lives. God must be out life. People should see Christ in everything that we do.
Reblogged this on rccgimpactsetters.