Friday, August 23, 2013

Dearest God,

How do we truly prepare to meet you?  How do we ready ourselves for those great meetings? I don't mean the meetings of heaven but rather the earthly gatherings, the ones where we are awake and intentional in coming before you.

This morning I opened my eyes thinking about various meetings with you. The meetings where we come in the darkness and in the light, those when we come in fear and in faith, the times we stumble in because we are confused and disoriented by our circumstances.  It seems there are differences in our conversations with you.  When we come in the light we are happy, maybe even ecstatic, but when we come in darkness our heads are down, despairing, and afraid.

Although I may be asking many questions, one thing I do know you meet us where we are. We do not have to change ourselves, be on our best behavior, or know all the answers to our dilemmas. When we are troubled sometimes we feel incapable of preparing ourselves properly to meet you. We want to come in full readiness to give praise and thanksgiving. Why would we ever want to meet you any other way but our hearts may feel downtrodden, our minds may be full of clutter, and our energy may be depleted.

When I do an inventory of our various meetings together, I just remember being met with love and so much mercy.  I may be acting like a recalcitrant child but still you remember me.  You speak to me making yourself known.  I do not have to wait around taking a number first.

As my husband and I prepare for our upcoming meetings with you, we just want to say thank you right now for your kindness and care.  You have ministered to us so many times in the past.  You have taught us great lessons.  You have challenged our attitudes, behaviors, and beliefs.  You have asked us to change and then you transformed us.  You have offered us grace as we bent low in sin. You have celebrated our victories in faith.  You have rocked us until we fell asleep in your arms. You have poured out your peace in our chaotic situations.  You have spoken firmly to us when you told us to rise up from our deathbeds.  You have been our God and you allowed us to be cherished children and for that our hearts are full of gratitude.

Calming God,
thank you
for faith
that gives
an extra dimension
to life.
Thank you
for your spirit
that helps us
see beyond
the simple,
the visible,
and the apparent.
Thank you
for the ability
to see
and hear
below the surface
so we
might travel
to greater depths
and heights
with you.
Thank you
for the privilege
of knowing you.

Love, Andrea