Author: PrayerPoints by Liz

PrayerPoints is typically a Lenten project and a chronicle of God working on my heart and mind. It is always a process. God is always teaching me! I am American born with Hungarian blood. I make plenty of mistakes, but I am forgiven. Each day is an adventure.

Mindful

I vacillate between being overly mindful and complete oblivious.

A little balance is in order here. I am not sure why I am in a state of feast of famine with my mindfulness. I surely can’t be mindful in every moment of every day. But there are rhythms and helpful habits I can build into my day that can help me be more mindful.

  • Time in God’s Word.
  • A weekly piece of Scripture to focus on.
  • Scriptural truths in my visual or auditory space.
  • Regular opportunities for prayer.

Setting aside regular time with God helps me be more mindful. Slowing down and allowing God access to those deeper parts of me requires my time and His patience.

What things should I set aside to make space for God’s work in my heart?

Present

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 NIV

My request list is rather long these days. I cannot fix any of the situations around me. I can only offer them up to God. But the people I love are in heavy times and it hurts my heart.

And then I remember — I can lay all of these things at Jesus’ feet. And trust that God will give me His perfect peace. This life isn’t always easy. And sometimes if I focus too far into the future, I find myself in a little bit of a panic.

How will this all play out?

Today I present my requests and pray that God will guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus.

Flexibility

If I keep up with the stretching, it allows me to be more flexible.

As God stretches me, He is opening me up to see His work. If I can take the time to let Him train me to consider things with His bird’s eye view, I can see the bigger picture — the Kingdom view. Instead of becoming unhinged when things don’t go “my” way, I can consider that maybe His way has a bigger Kingdom yield.

If you make sourdough bread, train for a marathon, or are a vocalist or musician doing your scales you know how important being flexible is. In fact, I would say every vocation or profession requires it. So just transfer what you know about flexibility in your realm and come at it with a Kingdom perspective.

God is always working. May I see His work more clearly each day and in all of my situations.

Stretching

These days I can tell if I have not take the time to do a little stretching. My body feels stiff and I am not quite as nimble as I would like to be.

My spiritual life is like that, too!

If I don’t keep up with my regular routine of prayer and intercession or digging into God’s Word, I can feel it in my soul — I feel a little off and out of sorts. And I am surely more inflexible and less Kingdom minded.

But it is so easy to get out of my good routines and habits. A change in location often throws me off.

Stretching is important. My body and mind need it every day. But my spirit needs it more than anything. A few stretches here and there help me to be open and my reflexes are more controlled. I am more able to respond and not react.

How do you spiritually stretch?

Pruning

Sometimes the pruning is painful and doesn’t seem right.

A perfect branch can produce a flower but, when pruned, can produce even more.

Not everything that gets pruned is bad, sometimes it might restrict growth in another area. As I consider myself and where I am comfortable with myself, sometimes those are places where I have become too comfortable – and maybe even complacent. If I was objectively looking at me, where might I prune? And, if I can imagine my Creator looking at me with love and compassion, what might He see that could be pruned.

It’s easy to look around at where others seem to be and where they seem to be going. But, I really need to just be concerned about my own self – and where I need to grow.

Lord, I await your work in me. Let me trust the pruning process, knowing it is done with a Father’s loving heart.

The Purge

I love that there are regular times of the year to set aside or get rid of things that don’t suit us. Whether if is food or drink or behaviors there are opportunities all around. Every season, every month, every week, and every day gives me a new start. A fresh take on what we are doing and what God is doing in and through me.

But, am I so set in our ways that I do not allow Him the space to reach or teach me?

This is a perfect season to let more of God’s qualities be evident in my life. Stepping aside to let Him shine through is not so easy. I am stubborn. I am selfish. But, He loves me and is patient with me.

Here is to a season of purging. May I welcome the change!

PrayerPoints 2024

Welcome to a new year of PrayerPoints!

This is a project during the Lenten season and will conclude at on Easter. I invite you to subscribe to this blog so you join me in daily reflections. I always look forward to the work God is doing in my life. Even when it doesn’t seem like much on the outside, He is surely working on my heart. These devotions are just a snippet of what He is teaching me.

It’s personal…

It might be easy to look at the events leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion and be shocked and disappointed about the betrayal by those who had a role in this agonizing and heartbreaking moment as it unfolded.

How could they?

How could God?

Jesus’ disciples, friends, and family had a front row seat. I can’t imagine watching it all. It’s easy to point an incredulous finger and have a look of disgust. But I have to remember that even though this took place before I drew my first breath, God’s plan was laid out…

…for me and my rebellion…

….for you and yours…

It’s personal.

God’s love came down and took our sins on as His own.

God provides all that we cannot: love, mercy, grace, forgiveness, and salvation.