Greetings, Everyone!
And to those visiting, I say welcome! I post every Wednesday and my sole purpose is to nourish your soul along the way. Each month I give away a $10.00 gift card to someone who posts on my blog. This month's gift card comes from Starbucks! So share an insight or story, bless lots of people, and just maybe you'll win a jolt of java for you and a friend.
Now on to my topic...
I just returned from my weekly cycle class. In fact, I'm embarrassed to say that I'm still soaking wet with sweat (I'll shower after I finish my post). :) Anyway, our instructor (who happens to be an elite level triathlete), pushed us so hard today, the studio felt like a sauna and everyone sucked their share of oxygen out of the room.
At a couple of moments during the class, my heart rate skyrocketed, I gasped for breath, and I was desperate for air. I truly was. I longed to step off my bike and step outside of the studio where the temperature was 20 degrees cooler; I imagined stretching out on a mat and allowing my heart rate to settle down. I was absolutely pushed to my physical limit.
Honestly, I haven't felt that physically desperate for a long time.
Read this Psalm:
How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD Almighty. I long, yes, I faint with longing to enter the courts of the LORD. With my whole being, body and soul, I will shout joyfully to the living God (Psalm 84:2).
Oh, to be gasping and as breathless for the presence of the Living God!
Dear Lord, make us more desperate for Your presence! May our whole soul, mind, heart, emotions, and strength engage in this passionate pursuit of You!
You reward those who earnestly seek after You - hear our cry, dear Lord!
May we be filled with the knowledge of Your will in ALL wisdom and spiritual understanding, that we may walk worthy of You, fully pleasing You, being fruitful in EVERY good work, and INCREASING in the knowledge of God. Strengthen us with all might ACCORDING to YOUR glorious power, for all patience, long suffering and joy. Fill us with thankfulness because You have qualified us to inherit all of the blessings of Your Kingdom (Colossians 1:9-12).
Forgive us for protecting ourselves from desperation. We have so many comforts to prop us up that we never really have to feel like we'll die without Your presence in our lives. Forgive us for drinking out of broken cisterns that never satisfy. We want You, Lord. Realign our priorities and our passions so that every choice we make is in response to your love (and not in reaction to our selfishness).
Make us more like You! Create in us a clean heart, O, Lord. Fill us with a holy desperation to follow You and to run the race before us in a focused and purposeful way. Help us not to get sidetracked or discouraged. Make us bold and strong and brave. Thank you, Lord. Amen.
Okay, I didn't plan on writing out a prayer today, but there you have it. May our prayers be more passionate, our faith more bold, and our hearts more desperate for HIM!
God bless your week!
PS ~ If you haven't signed up for my FREE quarterly E-zine yet, I invite you to! My author friends give away some free books, I write a devotional, offer some great book recommendations and inspirational quotes, and give you a prayer to send you on your way. Sign up here if you're interested:
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