Saturday, September 10, 2011

Dear God,

Through success and failure, good times and bad, injustice and unexpected blessing, you teach life lessons. In the midst of fear or great sorrow, there is the possibility of an emerging gift, one that can be a life changer.

You have repeatedly revealed that life is not about being happy, accumulating things, and keeping a list of wrongs (and the wrongdoers). It is what one does when life strikes with its difficulties. It is how one carries one's self in daily life. It is about faith, the character of a person, his or her integrity, compassion, and love for one another.

Sometimes, O Lord, it is challenging to rise from the ashes, to look with compassion, to forgive, and to walk ahead with faith and great love. As 9/11 approaches I am positive that there are those whose losses were so significant that they simply could not shake off their grief and pain leaving a gigantic gap where resentment and bitterness could entertain. However, there are others whose defining moments charted new courses leaving in their wake beauty, honor, respect, appreciation, and love.

As I listen to stories where your transforming power is at work, I am reminded to reflect upon my life, its direction, message, and faith. As I allow myself to look deeply within, you call me to correct my course, to make changes, to surrender, and to become the person designed from the beginning of time. When I am enabled to take steps forward, there is cause for celebration. When I am not, there is more pain and forces at work to destablize my life, to increase my ache, and to rid my soul of essentials that keep life going through its ebbs and flows.

As each new day unfolds, make me aware of my need to follow you.

Open me
to your word,
your plan,
and your challenge,
Eternal God;
daily transform me
so that
I will elect
to follow
your design
for my life.
Make me
to be
the best
that I
can be
for you
and the world,
I pray.

Love, Andrea