"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.

10.04.2010

Abiding Monday


I have been hearing messages, sermons and I have been reading on solitude and silence.  Both fit so well with my word for the year "abide".   As I am looking back I realize I have made progress, but still I am very far from doing it well.  I wanted to share with you a prayer that spoke to my heart last week.


YET THE MIND WANDERS……

Why, O Lord is it so hard for me to keep my heart directed toward you?  Why do the many little things I want to do, and the many people I know, keep crowding into my mind, even during the hours I am totally free to be with you and you alone?  Why does my mind wander off in so many directions, and why does my heart desire the things that lead me astray?  Are you not enough for me?  Do I keep doubting your love and care, your mercy and grace? Do I keep wondering, in the center of my being, whether you will give me all I need if I just keep my eyes on you?


Please accept my distractions, my fatigue, my irritations, and my faithless wanderings.  You know me more deeply and fully than I know myself.  You love me with a greater love than I can love myself.  You even offer me more than I can desire.  Look at me, see me in all my misery and inner confusion, and let me sense your presence in the midst of my turmoil.  All I can do is show myself to you.  Yet, I am afraid to do so.  I am afraid that you will reject me.  But I know – with the knowledge of faith – you desire to give me your love.  The only thing you ask of me is not to hide from you, not to run away in despair; not to act as if you were a relentless despot. 


Take my tired body, my confused mind, and my restless soul into your arms and give me rest, simple quiet rest.  Do I ask too much too soon?  I should not worry about that.  You will let me know.  Come, Lord Jesus, come. Amen.

Eerdman’s Book of Famous Prayers, ed. Veronica Zundel (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1983), p.106.

Also, in reading a study on Solitude and Silence the author suggests starting a file folder for a personal retreat day.  Place a blank sheet of paper in it.  As you move through your days, write on that sheet any passage of Scripture that begs to be pondered.  Toss in the folder any magazine articles that you would like to ponder.  Next to the folder, set books through which God has spoken to you in the past.  

I would also suggest that if you keep a visual journal that you begin to collect images that speak to you.  You never know when an image or passage might suggest a journal page. 

Blessings! 

22 comments:

Bonnie Heather said...

Your post today was so true for me. God is so patient...I so glad he loves me. :D.

laurel said...

What an awesome prayer! And I really like your idea on collecting meaningful things for pondering.

Jennifer Richardson said...

T~H~A~N~K Y~O~U for this
deeply satisfying drink of
pure water from peaceful streams
where living waters flow.
My soul thanks you
my body thanks you
and my spirit is grinning with love.
-Jennifer

Poetic Artist said...

Mary,
Wonderful post as always.. Thank you for the prayer. I hope you have peaceful moments.
Love you,
Katelen

Denise said...

Beautiful prayer.

Hindsfeet said...

Thanks, Mary...this prayer suits me to a T today....."not to act as if you were a relentless despot".......oh to see Him with new, unclouded eyes.....

Janettessage.blogspot.com said...

Well this was sooooooooooo right on for me....did you write it just for me?
Isn't it so awesome how personal God can be that He would bring me to read this today knowing I needed to pray this prayer and hear these words.
Thank you so much!

aseknc said...

WoW. This really speaks to right where I am at today. I was just speaking to God about these very things in my life today. Thank you so much for sharing.

Much Love,
Anita ♥
http://aseknc.blogspot.com/
http://asesaj.blogspot.com/
aseknc(at)gmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

Mary, it's been a while since I've commented and for that I'm sorry. I faithfully read your blog and have gained so many insights. Today's post reached me EXACTLY where I am. I can never thank you enough for sharing your life and heart with me -- you are a blessing to me!!
Hugs!!

kelvin s.m. said...

...a very beautiful prayer... some part of my human existence was moved when i read it...

GOD BLESS!!!:)

>kelvin

LeeAnn@Encouragement Is Contagious said...

Such a beautiful prayer! I am a big hugger person. I've always needed hugs and love to give them away also. So in this prayer when it talks about asking God to take my tired body and confused mind etc... into his arms, it put me at peace just thinking about it. His touch and being surrounded by his prue loving and comforting arms is a place like no other. I like the idea of planning ahead (the folder idea) for a retreat with my Heavenly Father.

Cannot wait to hear about your fun girlfriend weekend Mar. Your smile in your photo with your girlfriends on last post, is so beautiful and says so much about how special being with those friends, is to you. You are beautiful by the way!

♥Lee Ann

Kathryn Zbrzezny said...

Hi Mary, I love this post, thank you. (I tried to leave you a comment yesterday, but it wouldn't let me. I keep getting ERROR 503 lately on lots of blogs.) Thank you for your comment on my blog and for caring and asking about me. While it is true I am going through yet another painful bout, I am really trying to keep up my usual routine. I am staying positive, at least I think so! I am faithful and grateful for what I DO have...♥ Love, Kathy (Thank you again for your prayers. They help so very much, Mary.)♥

Unknown said...

Hi Mary, I can so relate to this prayer. Thank you for the visual journal suggestion. I have a day with my oldest granddaughter tomorrow, and I am going to start working on one, partnering with her. Blessings on you...Connie

Buffy said...

This one really spoke to me. I always try to pray and then my mind wanders. Thank you for sharing. I needed this. Hope your weekend was good.

S. Etole said...

thoroughly enjoyed this ...

Kerri said...

Amen. I really like the suggestions. Think I will give that a try. Thanks! :)

Nikki (Sarah) said...

I find it very hard to stay still but these are good suggestions.

Teri Leigh said...

I think that prayer could have been written by so many of us. There seem to be so many distractions vying for out attention these days. I like the idea of planning ahead for a time away with the Lord by saving in a file ideas to talk to Him about as long as it doesn't get in the way of just listening.

Martha Lever said...

This is such a good prayer, Mary. And I love the idea of the personal retreat with the folder. Sometimes I run across Scriptures that really speak to me but I need to write them down and keep them. What a great journal that would be!

I am doing better and thinking more and more that my hives might not be Bucky but a food allergy caused by the nasty food additive, ribonucleotides (flavour enhancer 635) It causes migraines too. It's an MSG like additive. Sounds like what I might have. I am adjusting my diet! Here is the site.
http://www.fedupwithfoodadditives.info/factsheets/635/RIBO1.htm

Unknown said...

Thanks Mary as always this post spoke to me too. I've been setting aside time each morning to be still and quiet to hear God's awesome words of encouragement in my life. I'm working on a folder of all your Abiding posts so I can go back, and read them again...I always take away more than the first time I read them!!! love you my sweet sister..

Anonymous said...

i hope your weekend away was wonder-full!!!

Nancy said...

Mar, I sure have missed you girlfriend.....To get back in touch by way of this post was incedible.......You and I seem to be walking the same path with this quietness and stillness issue and I have been encouraged just reading your words....I love the folder idea.....

By the way, how was your weekend with your girlfriends? Fun, uh?