jen has a blog..?

So, I think that I mentioned this a little while ago, but lately as I listen to sermons my stomach is literally doing flips…it’s weird…I guess it is from excitement to hear affirmation of what the Lord is teaching me? Regardless, it has been happening a lot lately. I feel like a sponge - I just can’t get enough. My spirit is thirsty for truth. 

I’ve been listening to a lot of Matt Chandler lately, and the one I listened to today was incredible. It was a talk from about a year ago called “nine pastoral prayers” and he talked about the 9 prayers that he continually prayed as he started The Village way back in the beginning. They are full of truth and very challenging! I think they are prayers we should all pray for ourselves and all believers. So I wrote them down…

1. That we would see that the greatest problem in the universe is not mere mortal failure, but rather a failure to honor God. 

2. That we would understand that discipline rarely brings about love, but love always brings about discipline. 

He pointed out that this is what makes us needy, desperate for Christ people. 

3. Remember that children of God are not under His wrath, but under His mercy. 

He sends us joy AND sorrow to detach our hands from the things of this world and attach those hands to Him.

4. Know that fullness of all things - life and joy - is in Christ

Not because He makes things in life better, but because He is better than life.

5. That we would experience a holy discontentment with where our lives are and work toward the hope of where our lives can go.

He’s not saying that we shouldn’t be content in the Lord, he’s just saying that our walk with Christ is never done - until we die, or He comes back.

6. Recognize that God has purposely placed us here at this time, in this place, for His glory. 

7. That we would develop a taste for truth - even the difficult ones

8. That we would embrace Biblical Christianity, NOT American evangelicalism 

NOT the prosperity gospel. NOT that God’s greatest affection is you - it’s Himself

9. That we would believe in the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit and desire them earnestly. 

Anyways, I really enjoyed listening to them. I think they are all so true. And they are hard prayers, they’re not going to make life nice and easy. But I believe they will make life rich and meaningful, and these days I’ve decided I’m not so sure I want an easy, struggle-free life. In that place, I think we miss out on the depths, power, and character of the Lord.