Looking for Real

The journey continues and I am looking for "real" in me, in God and in others. By real I guess I mean authentic, transparent and redemptive. All the same things God asks of me and gives to me—gives to us as we seek Him. This is a reoccurring theme for me. One that gains momentum as God continues to work and transform me—transform my thinking and heart. As I journey on, with very few who understand or resonate with me on these heart topics; I still fear I may get in the way of God's transforming work and struggle to keep hold of the truths He has and is giving.

Lately I feel like I am wondering around in circles and not getting too far. There have been lots of things going on, new stresses, new discoveries, and reminders of sticking with the basics. So here goes an attempt to process some of these reoccurring themes—write a few things down. I have not been writing as much the past couple of months. In part because of schedule and likely a result of a comment made about the nature of blogging and the motive behind it. Yes, I know that the opinion was just that and that the motivation in writing for me is not necessarily voyeuristic or narcissistic like suggested. Non-the-less, these comments left a mark and I really do not want my motive to be as self gratifying as all that. Yet, writing seems to be a good outlet for processing thoughts, emotions and ideas. So here we go….

The concept of prayer has been one subject foremost in my heart. We are in the thick of the process of preparing for full-time ministry and that necessitates a complete dependence on God. We have very little control over the process and need to give all our concerns, preparations and timing to the One who has it all in His control. Plus we are headed to do ministry in a place where we will have many obstacles as we hope to work with some of the most resistant people groups in the world. We would be utterly foolish to not have a personal commitment to prayer as well as a solid team that prays faithfully for us and our ministry. Personally, God has been challenging me to a deeper commitment to personal prayer and solitude with him. Also, we recently launched a challenge to our ministry partners to commit to pray every day for us and we would email them brief daily updates. We had already launched the challenge and received an overwhelming response before I realize the magnitude of the commitment I had made to prayerfully consider the requests and praises to share with our new InPrayer team. God is so good. He moves us to where he wants us even when we are not aware that He is moving us. Praise God that when we are seemingly oblivious He is not. I do a fair amount of reading and of course nearly all my devotional and study times lead me to materials reinforcing these themes. Always true, Brennan Manning in my daily Reflections for Ragamuffins wrote this on the discipline of prayer, "Living for God finds it foremost expression in prayer." Another quote from a book I am reading, The Way of the Heart-Connecting with God through Prayer, Wisdom and Silence, By Henri Nouwen, that I completely resonate with is: "The prayer of the heart opens the eyes of our soul to the truth of ourselves as well as to the truth of God. The prayer of the heart challenges us to hide absolutely nothing."

Prayer, heart prayer is the conduit of truth for me, for you, for others who seek to live transparently, authentically—redemptively. Real.

This redemptive community we seek is also founded in prayer. Duh right? My heart is so burdened for those I live and love to find the reality of who they are, embrace that reality in Him and live in that reality redemptively with God and others. If only the real people would show up and let God do His transforming work. If only I could wrap the lessons He has taught me and gift them, I would. But it seems the gift I need to give is my faithfulness in prayer. God can use the prayer of the faithful to transform hearts and lives.

I am looking for real and real is in the prayers of the heart.