Never Say Amen
by Jon Walker
Read this devotional as a prayer:
Help me, Lord, to develop a strong prayer life. I know you desire
intimacy with me, and you want me to watch with you and pray
(Matthew 26:40).
Yet, I never seem to find the time to pray in a deep, fervent,
consistent, persistent way. What draws me to my knees the most is
when I have a problem, when I want something from you, when I need
your help.
I'm flipping through my calendar, stressing with commitments, and
you just want to hang out with me. Help me turn my prayers into
conversations with you that keep flowing throughout the day, an
on-going communication where I never say "Amen."¯
Keep me close to you, no matter what it takes. I'm not sure I really
want to pray that; I have bruises and scars from "whatever it
takes"¯ discipleship, but, then again, I confess the crush of these
moments have taught me to throw myself on the stone before the stone
falls on me.
And that has moved me closer to the love that compels my obedience,
closer to becoming one with your heart. So, I'm asking that you
change me until my deepest want is to be with you.
With this I pray that you will create me worthy of my calling and
that your power will fulfill every good purpose you plan for me and
energize everything I do in faith.
My prayer is that your life will emerge in my face and in my hands,
in my thoughts and in my words. I know your grace will make it so
(paraphrase of 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12, NIV).
