In Praise of God

This morning I took my dog for a walk.  She has put on some weight over the winter and needs the exercise!  As I headed out I began to pray.  While this is nothing new, I often pray while I walk, I decided this morning, I would only offer prayers of thanksgiving.  You see we’ve been studying the book of Colossians and we’ve had an emphasis on thanksgiving.  I wanted to try applying some of what we’d been learning about thankfulness. To only pray prayers of thanksgiving  took a little discipline, as I was tempted to make requests as well, but it was a blessed time.  I thought a brief version of that prayer might encourage you…

Father,

     Thank You for my two good legs (I begin with the obvious, usually physical), thank You for the beautiful sun shining, thank You for the awesome path in my neighborhood to walk on.  I am not thankful for this wind, so I confess that sin to You, I know I should be thankful for it, please make me thankful (oops a request!).

     Thank You for the runner on the path, because human interaction is good.  How awful it would be to be all alone.  Thank You for my eye sight which allows me to see this beautiful creation.  Thank You for the beautiful black and red bird.  Thank You for all you have made.

     I now move to pray about the tasks I have today…being thankful for how I will accomplish them and the reasons behind why they must be done…

     Thank You for my in laws, who are coming today and how they love us and desire to be with us. Thank You for my car that will take me to my errands.  Thank You for my family and the opportunity we have to have a photo taken.  Thank You for the photographer.  Thank You for Nathan’s Court of Honor this weekend.  Thank You for all the things he has learned over the years as a boy scout.

     My thoughts now begin to lean to spiritual matters…

     Thank You for the ladies in the class (I thank Him for all of the ladies by name and the things I see Him doing in their lives)

      Thank You for our Bible study teacher, Kristie and how she brings us Your Word, and how she loves us.  Thank You for the teaching I have received lately on thankfulness (now I focus on what He has done in my life)  Thank You for my salvation.  Thank you for the work You’ve done in my heart.  Thank You for the areas where I still struggle, because they remind me that I need a Savior.   Thank You for the little victories in the areas that I struggle…

     As I round the corner to my house I see the white house belonging to Bob and Karen Atkins.  Thank You Lord for Bob and Karen, and how they minister to our church and to me personally. 

     As I approach my house…Thank You for this wind!  I am now hot and sweaty and this wind cools me off!!

     I am now ready for the day…

“Behold, he is praying.” These words reveal the state of Paul’s heart after his conversion on the road to Damascus. (Acts 9:11) As we read his letters, it is quite obvious that prayer is one on the defining characteristics of this man of God. The fact that God has seen fit to include these prayers as a part of Scripture means that they are given to us, not for our “reading enjoyment”, but for teaching, reproof, correction and training in righteousness. (2 Tim. 3:16-17)

Well, I must admit that, until lately, I have not really thought of Paul’s prayers as given to “correct” or “reprove” me…and yet, how clear it is that they are exceedingly helpful in revealing where my prayers are misguided, weak, focused on worldly rather than spiritual priorities, and the like. And so, in the Bible study class I am currently teaching on the book of Colossians, we will be taking the second half of class for a lecture/discussion time on the prayers of Paul. I am anticipating a prayer-transforming time in these sections of Scripture and I would like to invite you to join us in this study on prayer by way of the audio available on this website. For the next eight weeks, lectures should be available online each Thursday afternoon or early evening. If you would like the seven-page handout which will be used over the course of the lectures, it is available here.

If you have any questions, you can comment on the blog or email me: kristiegant@inpraiseministries.com. I am greatly excited about this study! May our prayers be so transformed that we will, more and more, be known as women of prayer!

I am of the generation who grew up without cell phones, computers or internet. If it were not for my daughter and a few forward-looking friends (and the necessities of this ministry), I would still be living “in the dark ages” without much inclination toward technological advances. Although I have written eight Bible studies, I do not consider myself a writer, but more of an instruction-giver (”Look up this verse,” “Make this list,” and so forth!) who fervently desires to apply God’s Word to every area of daily life and help others do the same.

And so, it is with a bit of trepidation that I enter the world of blogging; however, mixed with that is also a sense of anticipation. What will God see fit to do through this forum and ministry? Only time will tell, but my prayer is that He will use it to exalt Himself, encourage and sanctify His people, and further equip us to disciple the next generation.

One of my most treasured books is The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions. In it, there is a prayer that is fitting for the beginning of any new journey or the continuation of those ongoing. As you read the following excerpt, may your heart, as mine, be drawn to worship and prayer!

JOURNEYING ON

. . . My hands hold a pilgrim’s staff,

My march is Zionward,

My eyes are toward the coming of the Lord,

My heart is in thy hands without reserve.

Thou has created it,

renewed it,

captured it,

conquered it . . .

I love thee with soul, mind, body, strength,

might, spirit, affection, will,

desire, intellect, understanding . . .

Thou art worthy of an adoration greater than my dull heart can yield;

Invigorate my love that it may rise worthily to thee,

tightly entwine itself round thee,

be allured by thee.

Then shall my walk be endless praise.