"Once we clearly acknowledge the soul, we can learn to hear it's cries. - Dallas Willard, Renovation Of The Heart."

It takes courage to pursue our dreams. It takes time and patience to unearth buried treasure. But I believe with all my heart that we must do both.

6.21.2010

Abiding Monday



Matthew 6:1-13

"Be especially careful when you are trying to be good
so that you don't make a performance out of it.  It might
be good theater, but the God who made you won't
be applauding.......And when you come before God, don't
turn that into a theatrical production either. All these people
making a regular show out of there prayers, hoping for
stardom! Do you think God sits in a box seat?

Here's what I want you to do:  Find a quiet, secluded
place so you won't be tempted to role-play before God.
Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage.
The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin
to sense his grace.

The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are
prayer-ignorant.  They're full of formulas and programs and
advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from
God. Don't fall for that nonsense.  This is your Father you are
dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need.
With a God like this loving you, you can pray
very simply.  Like this:

Our Father in heaven,
Reveal who you are.
Set the world right;
Do what's best-
as above, so below.
Keep us alive with three square meals.
Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.
Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil.
You're in charge!
You can do anything you want!
You're ablaze in beauty!
Yes. Yes. Yes."

The Message


We can make prayer so complicated.

"Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage.
The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin
to sense his grace." 

Abiding

16 comments:

Just Be Real said...

Oh Mary this is such a good post. I have always struggled with performance based approval. From pleasing parents to co-dependency following man made rules . Thank you for sharing this message. Blessings.

Jennifer Richardson said...

Oh yes.....yes, yes, yes. Grateful and glad for this nourishing bread just when I was getting wobbly. Thanks for serving it up so generously and in color! -Jennifer

Bren Graham Thebeau said...

Yes! and amen sister :-)

Nikki (Sarah) said...

great advice...

S. Etole said...

Great message here, Mary. I really appreciate the rich content you give us.

LeeAnn@Encouragement Is Contagious said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
LeeAnn@Encouragement Is Contagious said...

Sorry, my English was off in the comment that I just left then removed so I could correct it first! Here it is again.

Oh my goodness, I don't know what I'd do if I had to talk to God with big complicated words!!!! I'm so thankful that He enjoys and lets me be me when I speak to Him.

I love your Abiding Monday messages Mary. You are a blessing to me.

Lee Ann

since I had to rewrite my comment, now you know why I'm so thankful that the good Lord lets me talk to Him just as I am!!! he he

Denise said...

Amen, so very true.

Poetic Artist said...

Mary,
Thank you for the message. So true, God loves us to be simple and honest. He knows our heart.
So no sense in using bells and whistles..LOL
Love,
Katelent

Buffy said...

I'm so glad God loves us to be simple because thats just me simple. When I pray at night I usually fall asleep on him,I always tell my husband that I hung up on God again and he says no he just put you to sleep because you were rambling on and on. I think my husbands right! Great message Mary,thanks for sharing.

kelvin s.m. said...

Dear Mary,

...and yes... yes... yes... all nothing but only the truth goes in here.... most encouraging of all... Cheers!!!:D

Have a good day!!!:)

Blessings!!!:)

>Kelvin

Anonymous said...

Mary,
This is a good word and I love the message's version of that prayer. Very earthy and real.

Blessings,
Tammy

Unknown said...

Here we are again commenting one your Abiding Monday...how I love reading them and I have to say it's as if you are talking just to me..ehehhe!!! Praising my Abba Father in my prayers for all the blessings he's bestowed upon me and my family...Yes, he does know our hearts, but he wants to talk to us, and learning to listen is so important too...thanks my sweet sister.

Simply Debbie said...

HELLO MARY,
THIS IS MY FIRST TIME TO YOUR BLOG AND IT WON'T BE MY LAST. I FOUND YOU THROUGH A COMMENT YOU LEFT ON PRECIOUS MOLLYE'S BLOG.
I LIKE, BEVIE, WHO I ALSO HAVE NEVER TALKED TO, FELT LIKE YOU WERE TALKING TO ME. I HAVE NO FANCY WORDS...I AM JUST WHO I AM BUT I THINK SOMETIMES I AM MISUNDERSTOOD AND HAVE DIFFICULTY COMMUNICATING WHAT I HAVE TO SAY.
I WILL BE READING A LITTLE MORE THROUGH YOUR BLOG AND IF YOU HAVE A FOLLOW BUTTON I PLAN TO PUSH THE BUTTON SO I CAN GET TO KNOW YOU BETTER.
HUGS
SIMPLY DEBBIE

lori vliegen said...

i've been around prayer warriors who are prayer ignorant.....ugh....God always says it best! xox, :))

Brian K said...

Oh Mary your paintings are truely amazing! So much to see even in the simplest of forms! I love them! Keep on creating!